Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 16 2009:
Allegedly breaking the by-law of the Imphal Municipality Council (IMC), traffic police has allocated parking to some private individuals without the knowledge of the authority.
IMC Chairperson, M Ranisana strongly protested the act of the traffic police by terming it as police subdueing IMC.
An order issued on November 9 last by DSP, traffic Victoria Yengkhom in the name of Senior SP, Imphal West has allocated rented parking places to private individuals in Imphal city area.
In the order, it was also mentioned that the parking place were rented to the individuals with the knowledge of the transport commissioner, H Ibomcha on temporary basis and the income is to be deposited with the state exchequer.
The five places which allocated as parking places by the order of the DSP (traffic) were near the official residential bungalow of the Imphal west district at Babupara, near the gate of the 1st MR on the side of the NH-39 near the commercial complex, near the CID office entrance gate on the same highway, on the stretch of NH-39 on the wall of the 1st MR complex and in front of the Nupi Lal Complex upto the TG Higher Secondary campus.
When vehicles of any kinds parked at these places, persons detailed here by producing an order copy of the DSP (traffic).
They collected parking fees from the vehicles park there starting from early morning till 4 pm.
Regarding the taking over of the collection of parking fee from private vehicles in these areas by the traffic police, highly protested IMC chairperson Ranisana said "Police has overpower the IMC).
In an interaction with the chairperson revealed that the work of collection of parking fees from the vehicles in IMC area is responsible for the council.
But there is a committee called Traffic Regulation and Parking Committee for regulating traffic system in the area and the chairman of the committee is the commissioner (transport), she said.
Deputy Executive Officer of IMC, Sagolsem Bisharup also present during the talk.
In a meeting of the committee held last month, the matter for allocation of parking in some areas of Imphal city was discussed.
But saying that the matter for within the power of the IMC, the deputy executive officer rejected the proposal.
Later, the order of the police was issued in consultation with the transport department.
She further said that the order cannot be enforced.
IMC will fight it.
They will not allow police and transport department to give interference in income generation areas of the IMC.
The matter will be brought up in the next meeting of the committee.
IMC will not give objection to policy which would be benefited.
IMC had stopped collection of parking fee following works taken up for development of Imphal city.
Now, after the meeting IMC will invite tender for allocation of traffic, she added.