Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, June 23: The Jammu and Kashmir Traffic police has realized fine of Rs. 2.33 Crore for compounding of challans, out of which Rs. 1.11 Crore was paid to a crane owner of Srinagar in the last three years. Moreover, despite coughing up huge amount to a vehicle owner, the police department has no provision to purchase the cranes but same department has purchased vehicles to the tune of Rs. 80 Crores in the last three years.
As per the documents, in possession of Early Times, it has been come to fore that during the last three years from 2013 to 2015, an amount of Rs. 2.33,34,709 was realized from compounding the challans for wrong parking.
"Out of this amount a total of Rs. 1,11,566,83 was paid to M/S New Nishat Enterprises, Syed Rehman Sahib, Brein Nishat Srinagar in the last three years and from 21/12/2011 to 2015, a total of Rs. 1,45,84,039 was paid to the owner for his eight cranes.
"The market price of Tata 207 vehicle is 5,02712 onwards and the cranes are modified Tata 207 vehicles, and if Rs. One Lakh more be spend on modification then eight cranes will cost Rs. 50 Lakhs but JK Police has given Rs. 1.45 Crores, in which 24 vehicles could have been purchased", an official said, alleging that it could be a part of conspiracy, in which several police officials could be involved, who might have been restricting the purchase of vehicles.
As per the agreement with the crane owner, out of an amount of Rs. 600 realized from as towing charges from the violators (for wrong parking) an amount of Rs. 242 per lift is paid to the owner. The remaining amount of Rs. 358 is deposited in Government treasury and payment is given to owner by SSP traffic on monthly charges.
Moreover, the cranes are hired for a period of 11 months after proper tendering and approval from Police headquarters with a provision of further extension on mutual agreement, the documents reads as.
Though the Jammu and Kashmir police department has purchased vehicles to the tune of Rs. 796228029 in the last three years and in the year 2015 alone, 100 Mahindra Scorpio vehicles to the tune of Rs. 11.64 Crores have been purchased by department but same department has no provision to purchase cranes, which would ultimately save a lot of precious money.
Against the question of purchase of cranes, the police department has maintained that there was no budgetary provision for purchase of cranes for the Police department. "Through outsourcing the objective to be achieved is to improve efficiency, minimize maintenance and operational costs. However the proposal for procurement of cranes by the Police department for lifting of wrongly parked vehicles can be examined as and when budgetary provision in this regard are made", the reply added.
Expressing inability in lifting of heavy vehicles, the Police department maintained that the hired vehicles were being used to lift light motor vehicles and not for lifting of heavy vehicles by the Traffic police department. |
