Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, Mar. 04: Despite strong protests from truckers against setting up of check gates which the people manning the gates, according to them, resort to illegal collection of money, Nongstoin MLA Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, has asked the government to check trucks plying in West Khasi Hills district carrying overload by putting up a gate at Nongstoin.
In a letter addressed to the government through Principal Secretary incharge Transport, Lyngdoh who is also the chairman of the Meghalaya State Development Reforms Commission (MSDRC) questioned the removal of the check gate at Nongstoin which he had last year asked the West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner to set up to conduct checking on overloaded trucks.
Lyngdoh blamed overloaded trucks for the damaged roads in the district especially those ferrying coal and timber.
“Trucks are permitted to carry only 12 to 15 tons but most are carrying 25 to 30 tons. As a result, nearly all the roads in West Khasi Hills are in bad condition making the public suffer,” Lyngdoh said.
Truckers from the state and West Khasi Hills in particular, have always demanded the government to dismantle all check gates installed along roads.
Recently, Shahlang Coal Dealers and Owners Association (SCDOA) alleged that illegal collection from truckers in the district was yet to come to a halt though the state government had given assurances to put a stop on illegal toll gates.
The SCDOA alleged that each truck ferrying coal going from Shahlang to Assam has to pay not less than Rs 35,000 per trip to people manning toll gates.
The SCDOA alleged that people extorting money from trucks claim to collect money for the clan’s land while others demand money in the name of the three weigh bridges set up along the particular road.