Operation Overload; Vigilance seizes lorries for overloading, fines up to Rs 10 lakh

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Vigilance's Operation Overload inspection has found out corruption of Motor Vehicles Department officers who take bribes from lorry drivers and take petty cases without imposing fines for overload.

A total of 84 lorries were seized during a state-wide inspection held from 11.30 pm on Wednesday till Thursday morning. A fine of Rs 10 lakh was imposed for transporting up to 23 tonnes of timber exceeding the permit. 38 lorries were handed over to the Motor Vehicles department.

These are the district wise list of vehicles seized: Kottayam (14), Kollam (11), Idukki (10), 8 each from Ernakulam and Kozhikode, 5 each from Alappuzha & Thrissur, Kannur & Kasaragod (7 each), Malappuram & Pathanamthitta (3 each), Wayanad (2) and Thiruvananthapuram (1). The inspection was done as per the instructions of Vigilance director M R Ajit Kumar.