Wanaparthy: Traders oppose mandatory RTO

Wanaparthy: Anyone who is planning to transport cattle, goat, sheep, poultry or any other livestock in vehicles, from now on will have to be extra cautions and must take permission from the local Road Transport Officer (RTO) and must produce the same permission letter to the motor vehicle inspector during inspections on the road.

Informing this, A. Sateesh, Motor Vehicle Inspector of Pebbair RTO department said that as per the directions from the State Road Transport Commissioner, now it has become mandatory for all vehicles like autos, Bolero trolleys, DCM trolleys and lorries to take prior permission from the RTO before transporting the life stock.

"Earlier, officials used to go liberal and allowed vehicles transporting cattle and other life stock without any inspections, however, we have been given strict instructions not to allow any vehicle which is carrying cattle, and other life stock without having the permission letter from the local RTO.

The main objective behind this initiative is to stop the illegal transport of animals," observed the MVI inspector.

As per the new dictate from the State Road Transport authorities, the local RTO officials have conducted intense inspections on national Highway 44 in Pebbair mandal and seized many vehicles carrying animals without having permission.

The officials also started an awareness programme on this issue. "Usually, farmers on every weekends bring cattle such as cows, buffalos, goat, sheep, and poultry to sell them in the weekly markets.

In fact, Pebbair is regarded as the largest cattle and sheep market in Mahbubnagar. So for their benefit we have not only conducted inspections, but have also created awareness on the new RTA acts and advised them from next time, they must all possess the permission letter from the RTO to transport cattle and other life stock in the vehicles," informed the MVI official.

However, the cattle farmers and people who regularly deal with cattle selling and buying are expressing their own doubts about this new directive by the RTA officials. They say that it is not possible for them to approach every time to the RTA officials to get permission letter for transporting their cattle into the vehicles.

They felt it is not feasible for them and it will only create more problems for them. "I deal in cattle sales and and transport bulls, cows and buffalos from one weekly market to the other. However it is not possible for me to every time approach the RTA officials for the permission. This kind of strict implementation of vehicle regulatory norms will only increase more corruption in the RTO office," said Basha Nayak, a cattle trader from Pebbair.