Date:03/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/03/stories/2007110358650300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Buses, vulnerable to attacks Law & order

Such attacks add up to already overburdened expenditure list, says S. Vijay Kumar

In the last one week, at least 42 buses of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Madurai Division, were damaged in agitations.

First, it was an incident of alleged desecration of the statue of B.R. Ambedkar at Avaniapuram that led to instant road-blockade agitations. Nineteen State-owned buses were reportedly damaged when an unruly mob pelted stones on vehicles.

A week later, removal of a statue of Dalit leader Veeran Sundaralingam from Mandela Nagar Junction sparked tension in the Perungudi police station limits. This time, 22 State-owned buses, including three belonging to the State Express Transport Corporation, were damaged.

At a juncture when the financial health of State Transport Undertakings (STUs) is in a bad shape, such attacks only add up to their already overburdened expenditure list. As State-owned buses have exemption to insurance, expenses arising out of damage caused either in road accidents or agitations have to be borne by the management.

“In both the incidents, police reached the scene of disturbance within minutes. However, the damage (to buses) was already done. Cases were registered against the accused under the Public Property Damages Act. In areas of violence, we advise the transport officials to suspend operations temporarily,” a police official said.

In the event of political parties organising agitations, there is a Government Order that makes the concerned party responsible in the event of any damage caused to buses. The cost involved in repair of the damaged buses will also be recovered from the party.

However, soon after the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam came to power, the GO was withdrawn, the official added.

Recalling an incident a decade ago, a trade union leader said that when villagers of Kulamangalam and Anaiyur damaged a few buses in an agitation the then General Manager T. Parthasarathy Srinivasan took a decision to withdraw services to those villages.

It was only after the locals accompanied by the village head gave a written undertaking apologising for the incident and also assured not to damage buses in future that normal bus operations to that area were restored.