Newmai News Network
Imphal | September 17
Manipur Chief Minister, N Biren Singh has expressed urgent need for strict scrutiny of identities before issuing driving license to applicants. He also asked concerned department to check import of "cheap pre-owned" vehicles to the State strictly.
Singh said this while speaking at a Road Safety Awareness Programme on Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 at ISBT Complex, Dewlahland in Imphal on Tuesday.
The Chief Minister, who also holds Transport portfolio, and also the Chairman of State Level Road Safety Council, asked the officials concerned of the State Transport department to be careful in issuing driving license as it is an important identity document. "They should strictly scrutinise identities of applicants before issuing driving license because it may be used as a legal document by illegal migrants to even claim themselves as State natives", he said.
The CM cautioned that officials found indulging in irregularities in issuing driving license would not be spared. He further said that many fake licenses were detected during a mass drive conducted last year
Singh meanwhile informed that the Motor Vehicles Act has been amended to curb and contain rising number of fatal road accidents. "During the period from January to June this year, 346 road accidents occurred in the State claiming 77 lives and injuring 556 persons. In comparison with the accident data of 2018 during the same period, this year witnessed an increase of 23.13% in the number of accidents. There was also rise of 14.92% in the number of deaths and 15.11% in the number of injuries", he added.
Stating that drives against traffic rules violators would be intensified soon, Singh urged the people to co-operate with Traffic Police and the Transport department officials in this regard because the Government is doing all these things for the safety of common people. On the other hand, he also asked the police and Transport department officials to behave well with public while conducting traffic drives.
