Ranchi: Jharkhand agriculture department has issued conditions for hiring vehicles, specifying that only white-coloured sedans, compact sedans, SUVs, compact SUVs and MUVs will be accepted. Suppliers interested in providing vehicles must have an average annual turnover of at least Rs 10 lakh during past three financial years.
Payments will be made on a monthly basis for 1,500 kilometres per vehicle. If full mileage is not utilised in a particular month, remaining kilometres may be carried forward to following month. Mileage calculation will be done every year in February or in final month of usage.
Vehicles will remain under control of department, office and concerned officials, with average daily usage of up to 12 hours. Contract period for hiring vehicles from external sources will be three years from date of service commencement.
Suppliers must ensure vehicles always have sufficient fuel. In case vehicle operations are affected due to lack of fuel, payment will be deducted at rate of Rs 100 per hour. Repeated disruptions due to fuel shortage will lead to immediate cancellation of agreement and forfeiture of earnest money deposit.
Department has also made it mandatory for drivers to submit valid commercial driving licence and Aadhaar card. Vehicle safety will remain responsibility of supplier and vehicles must not be older than three years. Each vehicle should be equipped with fuel, tyres, battery, first-aid box and fire extinguisher. Any fine imposed for traffic rule violations will be borne by supplier. Vehicles may be used both within and outside state, and payments to suppliers will be cleared within 30 days.
Meanwhile, in Khunti, PLFI extremists reportedly opened indiscriminate firing at a crusher plant and demanded a levy of Rs 20 lakh.