State Transport Department to provide certificates to drivers carrying hazardous goods

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: After 'long-standing' demands from the Assam Petrochemical Mazdoor Union (APMU), the State Transport Department has agreed to provide certificates to the drivers of oil and gas tankers to carry hazardous goods.

The certificate will be provided as per the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act.

This was informed by APMU general secretary Ramen Das who underlined that the Union has been demanding the State Transport Department to provide training to the drivers of oil and gas tankers to carry hazardous goods. After the training, the concerned DTO will provide an endorse certificate to the drivers, Das said.

Das stressed that there have been several incidents where the drivers of the vehicles carrying hazardous goods were not eligible to claim the insurance of the vehicle after meeting with accidents. He pointed out that the companies do not provide insurance if the driver does not have a certificate to carry hazardous goods.

Over this demand, the body staged a cease work at Betkuchi IOCL and Betkuchi HPCL on Tuesday.

Das said that following the cease work, a higher official of the State Transport Department had a meeting with the APMU.

"After the discussion, the State Transport Department has agreed to provide training to the drivers from Thursday (April 22). Following the day-long training, the drivers will receive an endorsement certificate or a hazardous license from their respective DTOs. The certificate will be valid for three years," he added. It is to be mentioned that, Das underlined that there are around 1,000 gas tankers in Guwahati and around 12,000 across the State.

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