Speed Governors:Seven lakh goods vehicles to be off the road

Bangalore, Feb 22(UNI) Over seven lakh goods transport vehicles will stop plying on the road in Karnataka from midnight today following a decision of Lorry Owners Association expressing inability to fix Speed Governors to their vehicles as directed by the Karnataka High Court.

Talking to newspersons here, Federation of State Lorry Owners' and Agents Association, President G R Shanmugappa said despite several memorandums and appeal made against the implementation of the government order on fixing the speed regulator device to commercial vehicles, no positive action was taken by the State Government.

Mr Shanmugappa clarified that withdrawal from plying on the road cannot be considered as agitation. ''We are not protesting against the High Court verdict since it becomes contempt, but our grouse is against the government which has failed to convince the Court properly''.

However, vehicles carrying essential commodities, including vegetables, perishable goods, milk and medicines were exempted.

Accusing the lobby of the manufacturers of Speed Governors behind the implementation, Mr Shanmugappa said after realising its mistake the government was contemplating to approach the Supreme Court against the Karnataka High Court order. The Federation had also filed an appeal with the Apex Court against the High Court verdict in this regard.

Meanwhile, State Transport Commissioner, Mr Lakshminarayan told UNI that the government was taking remedial measures following the decision of transport operators to go on strike.

Declining to confirm whether the government was approaching the Supreme Court against the High Court Order, Mr Lakshminarayan said appropriate actions were being taken to reduce the burden caused by the transport operators strike. ''Government will make alternate arrangements for the smooth movement of essential commodities in the state'' he added.

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