Hyderabad, November 17: Legal Metrology officials are now caught between the devil and the deep sea. Once again auto unions are at loggerheads with them, for insisting on installing batteries for digital meters, to make them tamper-free.
After numerous complaints from commuters about autowallahs looting them by tampering auto meters, officials decided to ask them to install a prescribed battery.
But auto unions are up in arms with the decision. They are not prepared bear the additional cost, as each battery would cost anything between Rs 600 and Rs 1,000. Autowallahs are also expected to arrange a cable to make the meters tamper-proof. “When we were asked to install digital meters a few years ago, they told us they were tamper-free. Now they are telling digital meters can also be tampered with. We now have install a prescribed battery. We do not agree with the decision which will burden auto owners,” Andhra Pradesh Auto Drivers Samakhya general secretary A Sathi Reddy said.
Meanwhile, Legal Metrology controller SA Huda has called for a meeting on Monday with all auto unions and battery dealers to settle the issue, after some auto unions gave a memorandum, opposing the department’s decision.
It must be said that traffic police have proved on several occasions how auto owners are tampering with meters. Following their drive to crack down on erring autowallahs, some auto unions threatened to go on an indefinite strike recently.
For the last three days, Legal Metrology officials have reportedly stopped calibrating digital meters, until the issue of installing batteries is settled.
With 1,000 autos coming to the department every day to get their auto meters calibrated, the decision has put auto owners in a fix. And unless meters are calibrated, no auto can ply on the roads.
–Agencies