July 15, 2019
Saugata Ray opposes the introduction of The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019
FULL TRANSCRIPT
Sir, I rise to oppose the introduction of The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019. The issue concerns legislative competence. Since the subject is in the Concurrent List, Parliament can make a law defining powers but those should be implemented by the States. It is mainly due to this reason that some of the States are concerned about new provisions that empower the Centre to formulate a National Transport Policy and to create a process of consultation.
Sir, under the new Amendment, changes in The Motor Vehicles Act will enable the Central Government to formulate schemes for the national multinodal and interstate movement of goods and passengers. Rural mobility and even last-mile connectivity, will take away the powers of the State Governments that have been making changes as per the requirements, suiting the local conditions, as well as the needs of the local population in the hinterland. Moreover, it also takes away the power of the States in rural connectivity as a social service instead of profitable routes for operation on such services.
Sir, this will put the people living in rural and faraway areas at a disadvantage because private operators refuse to cater to their needs as they get no profit, spread as the people are across sparsely populated regions across the Himalayan belt and in tribal areas in central Indian States.
That is why I oppose this Bill, which infringes on the rights of the States and takes away their power to improve road connectivity in the rural areas.
