Tamil Nadu recovery vans charge too high

Kochi: Even as hapless victims of floods struggle to recover from its severe impact on their lives, owners of recovery vans are charging as high as Rs 4,000 from them for carrying conked out vehicles for even short distances.

For a short distance of less than seven kilometers, an Aluva native had to shell out Rs 4,000, which is now the minimum charge levied by the recovery van operators. “I was lucky as I could arrange one for Rs 4,000 to take my car from Paravur to the service centre in Thevara because the operator was a common friend. Today that is the minimum charge while earlier this was Rs 1,500,” said Anson Devassi, who runs a catering unit.

Insurance surveyor B.I. Anshad said that currently 150 recovery vans roam in Kochi, Aluva and Paravur regions in place of 20 vans earlier. “Most of them belong to Tamil Nadu and they do brisk business. In fact insurance claim to the tune of '1,500 can only be made by the owner of cars to tow it to the nearest workshop whereas here they are forced to shell out Rs 4,000,” said Anshad.

Anson said that the recovery vans are getting at least four calls a day. “Since false Whatsapp messages spread panic that the insurance claim can be made only within a week, people try to rush these vehicles to workshops which in turn allows these operators to make hay,” he said adding that in worst-hit places like Kuthiyathodu, several people have still not touched their vehicle.

Meanwhile, Ernakulam Regional Transport Officer Joji P. Jose told DC on Thursday that the government has not fixed any rate for recovery vans and hence people have the only option of negotiating with the operators and go for lower quotes.