Resolve private weighbridge issues, truckers urge govt

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners’ and Operators’ Association (MCTOOA) has asked the State government to immediately resolve all issues pertaining to the weighbridges which were shut down earlier this month.
MCTOOA president Augustine Shanpru alleged that the sudden decision of the State government to shut several weighbridges in the State has crippled the revenue collection of various tax collecting points.
“Now goods laden trucks are getting the opportunity to overload their vehicles as there is no weighbridge to regulate their cargo,” Shanpru said.
The MCTOOA also accused the State government of showering undue favour on the lessee of the toll plaza at 20th Mile, Ri-Bhoi, by allowing the lessee to weigh the goods laden trucks on the toll     plaza’s mini weighing devices.
Shanpru questioned whether those 2 feet long devices were accurate for weighing a 9 metre long truck even as he asked if the government had floated any tender prior to appointing the lessee for weighing of trucks.
It may be mentioned that the Transport department had, earlier this month, taken over as many as ten private weighbridges in the State due to the failure of the lessees to complete payment of all pending government dues.
The ten lessees who had their weighbridges shut include – Chela Pala, licensee of Dawki weighbridge, Amstrong Paliar (Mawpun weighbridge), M.S. Nongbri (Bagli weighbridge), Haphibansuk Wankhar (Borsora weighbridge), Badapkupar Marbaniang (Ratacherra weighbridge), Patricia Sympli (Byndihati weighbridge), Tangkam M. Sangma (Gasuapara weighbridge), G. Handerson Syiemlieh (Cherragoan weighbridge), Memjulet Passah (7th Mile weighbridge) and Gavin M. Mylliem (Umling weighbridge).