Mangaluru city police have set July 31 as the deadline for all vehicles transporting fish in the region to get a waste-water tank fitted to prevent spillage on the roads, said Commissioner Sandeep Patil on Friday.
Speaking to reporters here after the weekly phone-in programme, Mr. Patil said officers are regularly monitoring the process of fitting the tanks and so far, 62 vehicles have complied with the direction.
With the next fishing season starting on August 1, the police have asked transporters to operate vehicles only if they are fitted with waste-water tanks.
Vehicles found without them will be seized forthwith, the Commissioner said, adding that 37 vehicles were seized before the commencement of the fishing holiday from June 1.
Meanwhile, the traffic police are taking action against the transportation of passengers in goods vehicles as well as overloading of school vehicles. They have booked 280 and 60 cases, respectively.
Incidentally, Mr. Patil got a call from a woman from Ballalbagh urging the police not to harass school vehicle operators. “I have been sending my children in a school van for long and have faced no issues. Please don’t strictly enforce the overloading norm,” she pleaded. Mr. Patil said the police have to ensure the safety of children. “If something happens otherwise, we will be blamed,” he said.
A caller from Kulai complained that bus shelters at many places between Baikampady and NITK Surathkal have been removed by the authorities. He said people were forced to stand under the sun and now they had to face the rains. He urged the police to ensure shelters are in place.
