Mumbai: Senior Congress leader Satej Patil on Sunday criticised the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for issuing draft notification G.S.R. 485(E), which has sparked widespread anger among farmers and small tractor owners. Mr. Patil slammed the Central government for framing regulations “from air-conditioned offices in Delhi” without understanding the realities of rural India. He said that the draft mandates that all haulage (goods-carrying) tractors be equipped with GPS tracking systems and black boxes are an added cost burden for farmers. He also pointed out that the notification fails to clearly exempt agricultural tractors from these requirements.The draft mandates that all haulage (goods-carrying) tractors be equipped with GPS tracking systems and black boxes. Mr Patil said it will be an additional financial burden on already distressed farmers. He also pointed out that the notification fails to clearly exempt agricultural tractors, creating confusion and concern. “In a move similar to regulations for airplanes, the Centre is planning to install GPS and black boxes in tractor-trolleys,” he said. The proposal has sparked fear among millions of farmers and small tractor owners across India, especially in Maharashtra, that such mandates could plunge them into economic hardship, the Congress leader claimed. The notification has faced stiff opposition from farmers in Kolhapur district of Western Maharashtra, a region known for sugarcane production. In this area, tractor-trolleys are widely used to transport sugarcane to mills, making the proposed rule particularly problematic for local farmers. As the Congress Legislative Council group leader, Mr. Patil appealed to farmers to formally register their objections while the draft remains open for public comment. He urged them to raise their concerns before the deadline of August 18, which marks the final day for submitting suggestions and objections. “Those sitting in air-conditioned offices in Delhi making laws for farmers have no understanding of agriculture and the hardships faced by our farmers. Our farmers toil in the fields; they are not commercial transporters on highways. Forcing them to install expensive, unnecessary equipment on their tractors is nothing short of looting them. They are already reeling under inflation and unpredictable weather and cannot afford this added cost. The government must face reality and immediately withdraw this oppressive notification. If not, we will be forced to take to the streets in protest,” Mr. Patil said. The Congress MLC warned that a tractor march could be organised against the Central government if the notification is not withdrawn. “I will speak with our party’s central leadership to press the demand for excluding farmers’ tractor-trolleys from the new rules,” he said. According to Mr. Patil, the new draft rule mandates that every tractor must be fitted with an AIS-140 certified Vehicle Location Tracking Device (VLTD). Additionally, like in aircraft, an Event Data Recorder (EDR) or ‘black box’ would be required to log accident-related data. “For tractors operating at just 10–15 km/h in fields, this condition is entirely unreasonable,” he said, adding that it would impose an additional financial burden of Rs 15,000 to 25,000 per tractor.
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