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Transport dept stymied by truck overloading at mines
In connection with this matter, the transport department conducted a meeting on Monday with the mining department, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), and officials from the National Informatics Centre (NIC), among others.
LUCKNOW: The state’s transport department has determined that it cannot take action against trucks found overloaded at the source (mines) by the mining department unless the gross weight of such trucks is quantified, according to officials addressing the issue.
In connection with this matter, the transport department conducted a meeting on Monday with the mining department, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), and officials from the National Informatics Centre (NIC), among others, to explore the potential integration of the mining department’s truck overloading data with the transport department’s system.
Transport commissioner CB Singh said that no decisions were reached during the meeting because it was recognised that integration and action by the transport department are not feasible without quantifying the overloading as detected by the mining department.
“The mining department intercepts trucks that are overloaded at the source (mines), but it does not record the amount of the load in their action report,” he explained, adding, “We cannot take action unless we are informed about the gross weight of the truck and the excess load being carried, in violation of the permissible limit.”
Singh further suggested that the solution to the problem involves installing weigh bridges at the source of mining as well. Despite repeated campaigns, the issue of overloading of trucks engaged in the mining industry remains a challenge for the government and a matter of grave concern.
These trucks, which transport mining materials such as sand and ballast at two to three times their capacity, also cause damage to the state’s road network besides resulting in a revenue loss to the government exchequer.
