From Our Correspondent
NONGSTOIN: The continuous overloading of coal laden trucks along the Riangdo-Athiabari road in West Khasi Hills leading to deteriorating road conditions has led the irked villagers and NGOs of the area to take the matter into their own hands.
After complaints made to the District Administration fell into deaf ears, the Ri-Nongtrai Sports and Welfare Association (RNSWA) along with village authorities from 13 hamlets started checking overloaded trucks at Porkrong since March 4 and have so far detained excess load from over 1500 trucks, fining them Rs 100 each.
General Secretary RNSWA, H P Nongbri said, “The checks have been conducted in the presence of EAC West Khasi Hills, S Diengdoh. We have also issued a month’s notice prior to the check urging truckers to abstain from overloading.”
“So far six people in the area have lost their lives due to the pathetic road condition. These people were sick and breathed their last on the way to CHC Riangdo,” Nongbri said adding that he had lost his new-born child when his pregnant wife was being taken to the CHC Riangdo for delivery in January, 2012.
“These checks are not for monetary gains as most of the coal-traders and
truckers feel, it is but for the greater benefit of the people of the area and also the truckers,” Nongbri clarified.
The RNSWA also urged the Government to deliver on the assurance to repair the roads at the earliest while calling upon the truckers to co-operate on the issue of overloading. The Supreme Court’s had set a 9 ton limit per truck.
