PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Doon Auto Rickshaw Union on Wednesday raised its long-pending demands, warning of a state-wide protest if the issues are not resolved within the stipulated time.
The union in-charge, C P Singh said that the auto rickshaw drivers’ problems have remained unresolved for several years due to the apathy of the State government and the administration. He claimed that no dialogue has been initiated so far. Their principal grievance is the spiralling number of e- rickshaws plying in Dehradun and Haridwar, adversely affecting their livelihood.
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, a member of the union, Hari Om Jha said that fresh registrations for vehicles should not be allowed because these are wrongly used. “If registrations are allowed, strict verification must be ensured and vehicles should be operated only by the registered owners,” he said. He alleged large-scale irregularities, claiming that nearly 18,000 e-rickshaws are operating in Haridwar, while Dehradun has even higher numbers.
The union president, Pankaj Arora said the union had submitted six-point demands to the Transport authority several years ago, including a ban on private two-wheelers operating as commercial vehicles through online platforms and a halt on new registrations of electronic autos and rickshaws for at least ten years, restricting the sale and purchase of e-autos to permanent residents of Uttarakhand. Other demands include increasing the operating radius of e- rickshaws from 25 to 40 km or allowing their operations up to Jolly Grant Airport.
The union’s general secretary Shashi Kant Bhatt said that the existing fitness centre at Majri Mafi located over 25 km away from Dehradun city creates serious problems for drivers, as accidents outside the permitted radius may result in denial of insurance claims.
Warning of agitation, Pankaj Arora said that if the demands are not addressed by January 19 the auto drivers from Dehradun, Rishikesh and Haridwar will march on January 20 from Company Chowk to Race Course and then to the Chief Minister’s residence.
The leaders from allied unions, including Rajendra Lama of the Devbhoomi Auto Rickshaw Union, Rishikesh and Rajendra Singh Yadav of the Auto Rickshaw Association, Haridwar, announced their full support to the proposed rally, stating that responsibility for the consequences would rest with the State government.
