192 govt vehicles condemned by N Goa depts in past two years

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2007-01-08
PONDA- In the past two years (2007 and 2008), the Goa government condemned as many as 192 government vehicles from North Goa, which were within the condemnation rules of the PWD and matching the criteria of vehicles condemnation.According to the PWD officials, vehicles need to run one lakh kilometres in order to be condemned besides other requirements.
Of the total 192, thirty-three vehicles, which included jeeps and even tractors and bull-dozers, were condemned by the concerned officials of PWD (works division IV) as per the government’s ‘request letter’ sent to them even though they were not fitting in the criteria of condemnation.
71 vehicles of police department top the list of the 192. The department of agriculture disposed 19 vehicles of its total 25 with the ‘request letter’.
The vehicles were condemned either for lack of control over their use, widespread misuse or sheer negligence in attending timely repairs. Most of the government vehicles were seen dumped for want of repairs at various government offices and they were just ‘show pieces’. As the cost of  repair would overrun  the cost of  the vehicles their condemnation was the only remedy.
Interestingly, information on proportional purchases of vehicles to fill up the gap was not available as the concerned officials of the various departments could not confirm it.
Records obtained by this reporter indicate that 159 vehicles which covered required number of kilometres for condemnation includes 71 vehicles of police department,  6 of agriculture department,  19 of PWD,  11 of general administration department, 9  of  fire and emergency  services, 5 each of  Goa  Medical College, electricity department and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services. 3 each of department of River Navigation, Goa Tillari Irrigation Development. 2  of Raj Bhavan. Water resources department, All India Radio, National Institute of Malaria Research  also had its share in the list of condemned vehicles in 2007 and 2008.
Says the SP, in charge of  Motor Transport, Mr Vishram Borkar; “We write  to the PWD about the vehicles after observing that  it is unserviceable  and accordingly  PWD inspects and  certifies it for condemnation”.
“The 71 vehicles condemned include two-wheelers and four-wheelers with jeeps outnumbering all other vehicles”, added Mr Borkar. He, however, could not inform about the procurement.
Of the total 33 vehicles condemned with relaxation in rules, the department  of agriculture topped the list.  Of the 25 vehicles it disposed of, 19 were not fitting with the criteria.
The director of Agriculture, Mr Satish Tendulkar said “because the effective life of the vehicles was over, we  proposed for their condemnation. All these vehicles were very old and hence they were condemned’’. He added that the number 19 included the tractors, bulldozers, motorcycles and jeeps.