Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Thursday, 22 December 2016

A Knee Jerk Approach ?



Today's Livemint.com , carries following news report :

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Car buyers may need parking space certificate in future  :   Venkaiah Naidu

To tackle growing congestion woes and lack of parking space across the country, the central government is looking to make it compulsory for car buyers to obtain an adequate parking space certificate.

Addressing a press conference in the national capital, urban development minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said that in the future it would be compulsory for cars to provide an adequate parking space certificate.

“In future, I also want to share with you that no car or vehicle will be registered without an adequate parking space available certificate. I am very keen on this. I am holding discussion with the surface transport minister and also sensitizing the states. We would be moving in that direction,” Naidu.

“In future it will be mandated. No permission will be given to any construction without a toilet,” Naidu, who was addressing a press conference on the launch of a toilet locator mobile application, added.

The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2016 was introduced in the Lok Sabha in August. The amendments are yet to be passed by Parliament. It aims to address the issue of road safety and improve the processes for citizens while dealing with transport departments.

In 2015, the Himachal Pradesh High Court had directed the state government to make compulsory for people to show a certificate of parking for cars that are to be registered for use within the Shimla municipal area.
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I strongly urge the Government , not to attempt such knee jerk reactions to the problem of urban transport congestion / vehicle pollution / road safety etc , all of which need to be addressed through other means


Will such a " directive / order / regulation " , not be unfair to future buyers of cars , when millions of existing car owners are parking their cars on public roads , without any permit ?

And why only cars ?


There are millions of buses / trucks / bikes / rickshaws / taxies etc parked on public roads , all through day and night ! Their owners have no permits ! And these are , their only " means of earnings " !


Then there are millions of " Un-licensed " carts on the foot paths of all cities , which leave no place for pedestrians to walk !


Leave aside a place to " park " these carts inside their huts ,  their owners have nothing but a footpath for themselves , to sleep at night !


Next , will the government come out and say :

" If you cannot prove that you have adequate means to support / bring up a child , you cannot bring her to life " ?


In fact , our constitution promises certain " fundamental rights " to every child born , irrespective of the financial condition of its parents


I am not suggesting that it is a fundamental right of every " new-born " car that the government provide it with a " parking space " !


Would you go so far as to tell the car manufacturers :

" Thou shall not sell a car to a person who cannot produce a certificate that he actually possesses , a parking space " ?


Or , tell Washing Machine manufacturers :

" You shall not sell a washing machine to a person , who does not have " Certificate of Adequate Water Supply " ?


If so , how about telling the doctors in hospitals :

"  You will not permit a baby to be born in your hospital , till the would-be parent produces a statement of his bank balance " ?



And prey , who will be that " CERTIFYING AGENCY " ?


By enacting " Un-implementable " laws , are you not giving rise to corruption ?


How much would I need to bribe that " CERTIFYING AGENCY " ( no doubt , with new Rs 2,000 note ! ) , to get such a permit ?



And how much more ( by way of monthly " haftas " ) to " IMPLEMENTING AGENCY " ?


And having obtained a " parking space "  , can I ,


*  " TRANSFER " it to someone else when I move to another street or town ?

*  " SELL " it or " RENT " it , if I sell my car and do not need a parking space ?

*  " GIFT " it to a relative / friend ?

*  " WILL " it to my children when I die ?

*  " INHERIT " it from my grandfather ? ( like " Purush-Dhan " ? )



Dear Shri Venkaiahji ,


Before rushing in with such a draconian measure , I urge you to upload a online OPINION SURVEY , inviting citizens to tell you whether it will provide a solution or increase corruption


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23  Nov  2016


www.hemenparekh.in / blogs  

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