Sunday, June 2, 2019

Loading Capacity, or Carrying Capacity, or Something Else?

I have said this before – and I am wont to say it again – we Bhutanese are a society that is thoughtless and unthinking. We simply do not seem to be mindful of what we are saying - even less, what we are doing. I think we are in a perpetual state of confusion – in a zombielike state of mindlessness.

I am referring to the serious issue of the recent suspension of export of boulders. There seems to be a devilish conspiracy to mislead the Bhutanese people by turning the whole thing into one that has to do with, what the Business Bhutan newspaper prefers to call “loading capacity” of the trucks. Loading capacity? What the dang hell is that?

Unfortunately I do not have the time to follow this issue closely – thus I admit that I have not read much about it. However, it is my belief that the issue is not about breach of the rules pertaining to the carrying capacity of the trucks. If it were, the matter would have been simply solved by imposing a fine, to be implemented by the RSTA/RBP – if the offence was committed within the territorial boundaries of Bhutan or, by a parallel authority in India, if the law was broken in the territory of India.

If the RAA and the ACC are involved resulting in the baneful and abrupt suspension of export of boulders, there has got to be something more serious involved. It cannot be simply because the truckers have been carrying boulders in excess of their permissible limit. Thus I urge the fourth estate to be cautious in the way they inform their readership. The RAA and the ACC cannot be oblivious to the serious implications that they know will result from their actions. They would be aware that their actions would impact businesses and livelihoods.

I think we can make an educated guess as to what has been happening. Lets hope that the actors in this misadventure realize that the best way out for them is to be graceful about it and admit that their Geese has now been cooked. Sooner they admit to the fact that they went into it with their eyes wide open, the better for their business. Own up to their mischief and atone for it. Being errant about it will send out a wrong signal and the public sympathy will not be forthcoming.

While I do not want to speak about what may have been and how it might have been, I do want to speak something about the Hon'ble Information & Communications Minister’s generosity to up the carrying capacity of the trucks by 3 MT. Before we accept to do that, it is pertinent to find out the views of the insurance companies, on the issue of revised carrying capacity that is not consistent with what is stated by the manufacturers.

Every class of vehicle has a certain rated carrying capacity (not loading capacity) set by the manufactures, based on a variety of technical qualifications. Will an insurance claim be admitted, if a truck is involved in an accident? What is the chance that the insurance companies might refuse a claim, on the grounds that the accident was caused as a result of the truck carrying a load that is outside the permitted limit?

And what of the financial institutions that fund the purchase of these trucks? Will they have something to say? After all, they finance on the basis of the assurance that an insurance claim can be made in the event of loss through accident. The banks might decide that the arbitrary upping of the carrying capacity beyond what is stated by the manufacturers could open up the possibility that could result in an insurance claim being rendered unacceptable. They might decide that their money is no longer secure.

I remember - long time back there was a fire in one of our timber stock yards in Bhangtar in South Eastern part of the country. The RICB refused to accept our claim on the grounds that it was a case of “spontaneous combustion”. I asked – what is spontaneous combustion? The reply – the timbers caught fire because of over heating through rubbing against each other :( Preposterous!!! - but they adamantly refused to entertain our insurance claim on this ridiculous ground. Even stranger, the case was ruled in favor of the RICB.

Remember, these insurance guys are a naughty lot - they hand you a Policy printed so small that you cannot read what is written. They tell you that ALL RISKs are covered - but in reality nothing is covered. Then when a claim is filed, they will fight tooth and nail - to disqualify your claim.

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