A bird's-eye view of Mokokchung Town.
A bird's-eye view of Mokokchung Town. (Photo: [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons)
Morung Express News
Mokokchung | October 23
The indefinite “chakha bandh” imposed by the Mokokchung District Commercial Vehicles Owners Association (MDCVOA) in Mokokchung since October 21 “due to the implementation of VAHAN 4.0 in Regional Transport Office, Mokokchung” has been suspended after the aggrieved party and the Mokokchung district administration held a consultative meeting today in the presence of civil society organizations.
According to the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung, W. Manpai Phom, the members present in the meeting today were notified about the rules of the union Transport Ministry with regard to VAHAN 4.0 and that they were highlighted on the “details of the concerned issue.” The members were also told to have been conveyed that “the report letter has been submitted to the government and is under process.”
According to the ADC, the MDCVOA were not opposed to the implementation of VAHAN 4.0 per se. With regard to “relaxation of mandatory 3rd party insurance,” which is a demand of the MDCVOA, the ADC said that the matter has been submitted to the government on September 16 and that the government’s response was awaited. MDCVOA is also said to have raised a demand for “further revision of penalty for updation of certificate of fitness.”
ADC Mokokchung also stated that the meeting deliberated on the problems faced by the public due to the “chakha bandh” called by MDCVOA. “In view of the above discussion, the chakha bandh called by the MDCVOA remains suspended with immediate effect,” stated the ADC Mokokchung. The meeting today according to the ADC was attended by the district administration, DEF police, Ao Senden, Mokokchung Town Aor Telongjem, MCCI, MDCVOA and officials of RTO Mokokchung.
Meanwhile, the MDCVOA officials while addressing a press conference today said that the “chakha bandh” was temporarily suspended in view of the “ongoing Naga political negotiations” as requested by the Mokokchung district administration, Ao Senden, Mokokchung Town Aor Telongjem and All Ward Union Mokokchung. MDCVOA also claimed that the RTO Mokokchung’s assurance that their grievances would be “taken up with higher authority” was another reason for their temporarily suspending the “chakha bandh.”
MDCVOA meanwhile thanked the public for their cooperation during the three days of the “chakha bandh” and also conveyed appreciation to its counterparts in Tuensang, Zunheboto, Longleng, Noklak, Peren and Phek districts for their support and solidarity by calling similar “chakha bandh” in their respective districts.
It may be recalled that MDCVOA first appealed to the RTO Mokokchung in July not to implement VAHAN 4.0 system in Mokokchung citing the reason that it was “impossible to pay the road tax as per the system.” Following this, MDCVOA issued an ultimatum that they would impose a “chakha bandh” for not addressing their grievance.
Consequently, on September 10, the Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung called a meeting wherein, among other things, it was resolved that “VAHAN 4.0 transaction shall remain suspended in Mokokchung district till further discussion is made on the matter,” a resolution MDCVOA claimed was not put into practice.
