Grewal writes to Gadkari, objects to proposed amendment in Central Motro Vehicle Rules, 1989

Chandigarh, November 2, 2017: Punjab BJP vice-president Harjit Singh Grewal today wrote to the Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways & Shipping, Nitin Gadkari, raising objections to the proposed amendment in the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, in sub-rule(b) of rule 2 which seeks to omit the words “Agricultural tractor is a non-transport vehicle”.

Grewal in his letter wrote, “(Since) the tractor is not designed to be used to transport cargo or to carry passengers, the proposed amendment in the rules seeking to omit the words “Agricultural tractor is a non-transport vehicle” is not justified”.

Stressing that the agricultural tractor indeed is a non-transport vehicle by design, use and operation, Grewal said the if the amendment is carried out it will “attract additional levies and taxes and would make it costlier and render it out of reach of ordinary farmers, whose farm income is abysmally low and who are under debt due to the unfriendly agricultural related policies of the government”.

The sub-rule(b) of rule 2 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 reads: “‘agricultural tractor’ means any mechanically propelled 4-wheel vehicle designed to work with suitable implements for various field operations and/or trailers to transport agricultural materials. Agricultural tractor is a non-transport vehicle”.

Stating that “modern farming is dependent more on tractor than on anything else”, and “(it) is the primary need of an agricultural unit”, Grewal said that “there may be many alternatives to a tractor in commercial/industrial sector, but there certainly is no alternative to it in agricultural sector”.

Requesting that the proposed amendment be dropped, Grewal also sought a personal hearing with the union minister along with a delegation of farm leaders of Punjab.