JORHAT, May 6 - The All Assam Auto Emission Testing Station Owners� Association (AAAETSOA) has alleged that the owner of a Guwahati-based private firm named Global Associate in connivance with a top official of the State Transport Department was �running a syndicate� by committing gross irregularities that were in severe violation of the Government rules.
The AAAETSOA, established in 2001, has over 70 members who run over 150 auto-emission testing centres across the State, has alleged that due to the irregularities committed by Global Associate, the vehicle owners and emission test station owners as well were facing losses.
Addressing mediapersons here today, the office-bearers of the association alleged that since 2013, the said firm has been allotted contract by the Transport Department to open several emission testing stations across Assam without inviting tenders. They alleged that in Guwahati only the firm was awarded contract to run about five auto emission testing stations without following the tendering process.
Pritim Piku Borah, spokesman of the association, who is an owner of a testing station at Jamugurihat in Sonitpur district, alleged that the Government should have followed the tendering process while awarding contracts to the said firm to open emission testing stations, as was done in allotting to other firms since 2001.
Borah also alleged that Global Associate has been arbitrarily (without inviting tenders) awarded permission by the Transport Department to run mobile emission testing service stations in rural areas of the State by installing machines on vehicles.
He alleged that the firm was carrying out the service by charging exorbitant rates � much more than the Government prescribed rates � for conducting the test on different categories of vehicles and even without conducting tests.
Borah claimed that receipts issued by mobile emission testing centres run by the firm showed the same reading across the State, which was a clear indication that malpractice was taking place.
Borah exhibited receipts purportedly issued by the firm by charging high rates. He further alleged that the firm has in gross violation of existing Government rules been issuing authorisation letters to several persons and private firms to conduct mobile emission service in various parts of Assam in a manner similar to granting permission given to a franchise. He exhibited copies of such authorisation letters purportedly issued by the firm.
�How could a private firm grant authority to another private party to carry out a service which only the Government could grant permission to run,� he questioned.
AAAETSOA general secretary Milan Sankar Hazarika from Lakhimpur further alleged that in recent times it has come to the notice of the association that the Department had allotted contract to the same firm to open emission testing station within petrol/diesel pump premises without inviting tenders.
Hazarika said that the association will approach the Transport Department soon and will submit a memorandum to the Minister concerned, pointing out the gross irregularities being committed in the Department and demand immediate steps to prevent the same.
AAAETSOA organising secretary Pankaj Bezbaruah said that the association was taking legal advice on the issue and was also contemplating to approach the court, if required.
Chief adviser of the association Jayanta Bora of Jorhat and Abdul Rafiq, an association member from Nagaon, were also present on the occasion.