Pol pressure hampering helmet rule in Chhattisgarh: Minister

Chhattisgarh acting Home Minister Ajay Chandrakar today told the Assembly that political interference was hampering effective implementation of helmet rule in the state.
"Many times,it has been observed that enforcement of wearing helmet rule gets affected due to political interference," Chandrakar said in response to a question on the issue raised by BJP Legislator Devjibhai Patel.
During the Question Hour, Patel had asked in how many cities of the state, helmets have been made compulsory for two-wheeler riders in the last three years.
"What steps have been taken by the department for making the helmet campaign successful as well as the steps against violation of the rule?" he asked.

He also sought to know how much penalty amount has been collected till February 19 this year from the violators.
In his reply, Chandrakar, who is also the state Parliamentary Affairs Minister, said order for making helmets mandatory for two-wheeler riders has been issued in all urban and rural areas of the state in the past three years and to make people aware of the issue, various public awareness campaigns were carried out.

Till February 19 this year, Rs 2,97,07,200 were recovered from 1,20,944 traffic violators as penalty amount, he added.
Patel also complained about low quality helmets being sold everywhere.

"As per the Union Home Ministry directives, it is compulsory to use ISI-marked helmets," he said and sought to know what was the police doing on this front.
Chandrakar assured the House that a fresh directive regarding usage of ISI helmets will be issued at the earliest.
Stating that effective implementation of the mandatory helmet rule gets affected due to the political interference, the minister urged members of the Assembly to pass a resolution for enforcement of laws in this regard.
Congress Legislator Satyanarayan Sharma and Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal, objected by saying there were already laws in this regard.
In response, Chandrakar said it has been observed that public representatives were obstructing its effective implementation.

"Pressure is often created by almost everyone (public representatives), whether they accept it ornot. Therefore,I call upon members of the House to come forward and pass a resolution that no political interference will be created in the implementation of the said law," he said.