By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The East Khasi Hills district administration has taken strong cognizance over the decision of certain Dorbar Shnong in the city to impose restrictions on entry of vehicles during cleaning drive programmes in their respective localities.
Imposition of restrictions on entry of vehicles has put the general public into lot of inconvenience especially in localities like Mawlai, Mawkhar, Lawmali and Laitumkhrah since residents of adjoining localities are totally dependent on these localities to reach various destinations.
Of late the problem has become more acute especially with Christmas round the corner.
It also been observed that local cab drivers would taking advantage of any such ban on entry of vehicles during the cleaning drive by charging higher fares from passengers.
Last year, normal life in Polo was partially affected as movement of vehicles via Lawmali came to a halt for several hours during the annual cleaning drive conducted by Lawmali Pyllun in the locality.
Vehicles were prevented from move to and from Polo and Mawlai via Lawmali. Similarly, vehicles moving to and from Polo area to Motphran also faced problem as the road via Lawmali, which is the lifeline between Polo and areas like Jaiaw, Mawkhar and Motphran, was cut off due to the cleaning drive causing inconveniences to the people.
Vehicles coming from Mawlai intending to go to Polo were asked to take the routes via Mawroh and Golflink and people who wanted to go to Ganesh Das Hospital had a real tough time as no vehicle was available.
Most of the drivers coming from Mawlai became aware of the restriction only when they reached the FCI and came across the no entry signs.
Vehicles which came to Polo from NEIGRIHMS, Nongmensong and IGP planning to take the routes via Lawmali Motphran were caught in a fix due to the sudden imposition of no entry. Traffic jam also occurred at Polo during the no entry period via Lawmali.
This is only one such instance of the problems faced by the public during the customary cleaning drives.
There are reports in the media about many localities holding their annual cleaning drives in the next few days and putting ban on the entry of vehicles.
Lawmali Pyllun Dorbar Shnong has banned the entry of vehicles in their localities during their cleaning drive on December 15 from 8 am till 1 pm in the afternoon.
Similarly, Dorbar Shnong Mawkhar and Mission Compound, which is also organising the cleaning drive on December 15, has also put a similar ban on entry of vehicles.
Interestingly, the Dorbar Shnong of Lumshyiap and Nonglum has not put any ban on entry of vehicles during the cleaning drive scheduled on December 17 and 18 respectively. They have only urged car owners and drivers to drive slowly while plying through these localities during the hours of the cleaning drive.
Taking cognizance of the matter, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police M Kharkrang has stated that it is illegal on the part of the Dorbar Shnong to impose ban on the entry of vehicles during the cleaning drive.
“We have issued clear instruction that no Dorbar Shnong is allowed to ban the entry of vehicles during the cleaning drive. They (Dorbar Shnong) have no authority to stop the entry of vehicles into their localities,” Kharkrang said. The SP also reiterated that the Dorbar Shnong cannot take the common public for a ride.
Echoing similar views, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal said it is totally illegal for the localities to put a ‘No Entry’ on the entry of vehicles during the cleaning drive.
“I have taken up the matter with the police and have asked them to take stringent action if there is such ban on the entry of vehicles by the Dorbar Shnong in the name of cleaning drives,” Goyal said while also asserting that no one can stop public vehicles from plying on any roads.
Meanwhile, justifying the restriction on traffic movement, Mawkhar Rangbah Shnong WHD Syngkon said that the locality has no option but to impose ban on the entry of vehicles since children and elderly people would be taking part in the cleaning drive.
“Mawkhar is the main junction leading to Motphran and it would put a huge risk on the safety of the children and elderly people if vehicles are allowed to ply,” Syngkon said, while assuring that they would try to complete the cleaning by 12 noon.
“I would urge the general public to bear with this arrangement,” he said.
Mawlai Mawdatbaki Rangbah Shnong BR Kharmujai said that the locality has not put total restriction on entry of vehicles.
“We are allowing vehicles to ply from the main junction. We have banned entry of vehicles only along the internal roads of the locality to ensure that the residents of other localities are not affected,” Kharmujai said.
Meanwhile, Lumshyiap Rangbah Shnong P Khongdup said that they are not banning entry of vehicles during the cleaning drive scheduled on December 17.
“We have realized that banning the entry of vehicles would affect other neighbouring localities like Mawpat who are totally dependent through the road from our locality,” Khongdup said.
He also felt that he does not believe in imposing the ban on entry vehicles if it affects other peoples who reside in the neighbouring localities.