The heavy overloaded trucks still ply freely on Dhimbam Ghat Road, severely damaging the 14km long stretch that passes through the ecologically sensitive Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR). This is despite a ban imposed on such vehicles on the route from January this year by the Erode district administration, police and forest department.
According to a section of environmentalists, heavy overloaded vehicles had been taking a toll on the ghat road and the district administration, police and forest department had jointly decided to ban such trucks on the route after taking into account their repeated pleas to this effect.
"As per rules, only vehicles carrying a load of up to 16.2 tonnes are to be permitted on the ghat road. But, trucks carrying loads up to 30 tonnes frequently ply in the ghat section," S Manickam, president of Thalavadi Farmers' Association, pointed out. Talking to TOI, he further said that the security personnel at check posts on both ends of the ghat road have failed to implement the ban and alleged that the officials were simply allowing all trucks on the ghat road after accepting bribe.
The decision of the authorities, Manickam said, was not to allow trucks having 12 or more wheels on the Ghat Road at any point of time and those with 10 wheels from 5pm-7am. Similarly, trucks with extra fittings, and height and tonnage weight than the permissible limit were to be banned on Dhimbam Ghat Road. "But, the officials do not check the trucks for these specifications. Nor do they follow the timings as it was planned," said Manickam, adding that police and forest officials had strictly followed the new regulation for a couple of weeks.
Dhimbam Ghat Road has 27 hairpin bends and is a primary route for truckers carrying goods from Tamil Nadu and Kerala to northern states via Mysuru in Karnataka. Similarly, trucks carrying steels, cements and pulses from northern states to southern parts of the country also use the road. The heavy traffic often leaves the road battered for most part of the year, despite the periodic repair and maintenance works. "The repair works help very little as the road gets damaged soon due to movement of overloaded trucks," said K Manimaran, an environmentalist.
When contacted, police officials said they would look into the issue at the earliest. "We will try our best to monitor overloaded trucks. However, most drivers take shortcut routes to reach Dhimbam ghat road and avoid check post roads," said an official on condition of anonymity.
According to a section of environmentalists, heavy overloaded vehicles had been taking a toll on the ghat road and the district administration, police and forest department had jointly decided to ban such trucks on the route after taking into account their repeated pleas to this effect.
"As per rules, only vehicles carrying a load of up to 16.2 tonnes are to be permitted on the ghat road. But, trucks carrying loads up to 30 tonnes frequently ply in the ghat section," S Manickam, president of Thalavadi Farmers' Association, pointed out. Talking to TOI, he further said that the security personnel at check posts on both ends of the ghat road have failed to implement the ban and alleged that the officials were simply allowing all trucks on the ghat road after accepting bribe.
The decision of the authorities, Manickam said, was not to allow trucks having 12 or more wheels on the Ghat Road at any point of time and those with 10 wheels from 5pm-7am. Similarly, trucks with extra fittings, and height and tonnage weight than the permissible limit were to be banned on Dhimbam Ghat Road. "But, the officials do not check the trucks for these specifications. Nor do they follow the timings as it was planned," said Manickam, adding that police and forest officials had strictly followed the new regulation for a couple of weeks.
Dhimbam Ghat Road has 27 hairpin bends and is a primary route for truckers carrying goods from Tamil Nadu and Kerala to northern states via Mysuru in Karnataka. Similarly, trucks carrying steels, cements and pulses from northern states to southern parts of the country also use the road. The heavy traffic often leaves the road battered for most part of the year, despite the periodic repair and maintenance works. "The repair works help very little as the road gets damaged soon due to movement of overloaded trucks," said K Manimaran, an environmentalist.
When contacted, police officials said they would look into the issue at the earliest. "We will try our best to monitor overloaded trucks. However, most drivers take shortcut routes to reach Dhimbam ghat road and avoid check post roads," said an official on condition of anonymity.