The Mahasangh has responded to news reports appearing in a section of the press which stated that the state government is planning to scrap all the 15 years commercial vehicles after March 1999.

According to president of the Mahasangh, Mohinder Singh Ghura, transporters are also protesting against the proposal to levy entry fee on vehicles entering and leaving the state.

Truck operators are also agitated over the fact that the state transport department could not enforce strict pollution control checks, a more practical method to control pollution.

"Is the government also ready to lose Rs 100 crore annual revenue generated from these vehicles ?" Ghura asked adding that the government cannot justify that pollution is caused due to old vehicles andnot due to spurious parts and adulterated fuel.

He felt that if the state government continues to act without any reasoning or logic then people would stop purchasing vehicles from the state.

When contacted, transport commissioner of Maharashtra, Vijay Mathankar clarified that "no such proposal has been made by his office."

Truck operators are also demanding scrapping of the proposal to levy entry fee on the vehicles. "Transporters are already paying around Rs 900 crore annually to the state," said Ghura adding that the industry is not in a position to burden itself with an additional tax.

The transporters are also protesting against the non-fulfillment of their 50 demands by the government. Besides demanding declaration of a minimum freight by the government, transporters want a check on harrassment at check-nakas.

The industry also wants the government to look into the atrocities of the police department and non-registration of cases. The government has also been asked to set up truck terminals atvarious cities.