Admin forced to change order
NONGSTOIN: Hundred of vehicles were left stranded on NH-40 in Nongstoin, West Khasi Hills District, on Wednesday when hundreds of angry coal truck drivers and coal traders staged an agitation by blocking the road demanding that they be allowed to transport coal through the Nongstoin-Shillong road.
West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner S. Kharlyngdoh on Wednesday issued an order that all trucks from Shallang area shall exit from Athiabari after obtaining a weight certificate from the Mawpun weighbridge, while trucks transporting coal from Nongstoin shall obtain the certificate from Mawpun weighbridge and thereafter follow the Mawpun-Riangdo-Athiabari road.
The decision was taken in view of the frequent traffic congestion on the Nongstoin-Shillong road.
However, this angered the coal truckers who physically blocked the highway resulting in a huge traffic jam along NH-40 from around 10 am up to 1 pm.
The coal traders claimed that the NGT order permits the coal-laden trucks to get their coal measured in any weighbridge authorized by the NGT, but the notification issued by the deputy commissioner mentioned that the coal trucks shall be weighed only at Mawpun weighbridge.
Nongstoin MDC Gabriel Wahlang also intervened to calm down the truckers.
The angry mob of coal truckers was pacified only when the deputy commissioner passed an order around 1 pm permitting the trucks to ply through Nongstoin-Shillong road.
Meanwhile, the coal traders led by the MDC met district SP S. Nongtnger and effected a change in the No Entry timings for heavy vehicles. The No Entry will now be in force from 8 am to 10.30 am from 2 pm to 5 pm.