SARBHANG

This has reference to the story “Indian trans­porters taking away Bhuta­nese bread” published on 24 November, 2009 issue of Bhutan Today.

Indian trucks do not transport goods within Bhutan as stated; if so, the highways of the interior parts of the country would have been seeing lots of Indian trucks. On the con­trary, even if some one has perfect vision it may be difficult to spot any except in places where mega proj­ects are going on. It may be mentioned that Indian trucks are permitted to enter till the border towns with their goods and also carry back materials from these border towns to In­dian cities.

Large fleet of Indian trucks may be seen at bor­der towns like Phuentshol­ing, Gelephu, Gomtu and Samdrup Jongkhar due to the available industries in these areas. However, the Road Safety & Transport Authority (RSTA) have been discouraging these major companies to engage Indian trucks between Bhutan to Bhutan destina­tions despite their concern that Bhutanese trucks are not enough and costly too.

Further, there had been power projects in the past like Kurichu, Tala and Chhukha and the system followed was to encourage Bhutanese trucks for inter­nal movement of goods and lifting of goods from bor­dering Bhutanese towns. However, those trucks/trailers carrying fragile and non-fragmentable equipment and goods were permitted till the project site. Also a few ordinary trucks and specific Indian trucks belonging to those Indian contractors were permitted to complete the time bound projects.

As far as the Indians owning trucks in the name of Bhutanese is concerned, it seems it is a collusion be­tween the duo. As per the RSTA regulations, “The Authority must not regis­ter a vehicle in the name of non-Bhutanese even if he has a business or employ­ment in Bhutan, except where the vehicle is meant for his personal use and not used for business or in the course of trade or busi­ness.”

Accordingly, RSTA does not register taxis and trucks in the name of non-Bhutanese. The outright solution in this case would be to charge the individual, if any, to the court of law, by the truckers association as per the penal code of Bhutan as it is a deception.

Going by the record, the RSTA, Gelephu has permitted three trucks of MS. Shyama Power Pri­vate Limited, a contractor of Bhutan Power Corpora­tion, as requested by BPC. RSTA Phuentsholing has endorsed/issued permit to 25 trucks and trailers, be­longing to three contract parties, namely, HCC, L&T and Gammon, engaged for special purpose or carry­ing fragile and non-frag­mentable goods to various mega projects.

Therefore, this is to inform that Bhutanese trucks are always given the priority and definitely gov­ernment would have plans to further strengthen this in near future as the mega projects start.

Loknath Sharma,

Sr. Regional Transport officer,

RSTA, Gelephu.

From Bhutan Today

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