SHILLONG: The Opposition criticised the government on Thursday, the last day of the autumn session, for evading questions on functioning of weighbridges.
During the question hour on Thursday, Legal Metrology Minister Samlin Malniang said the total number of weighbridges is 103.
To a question on the total revenue earned by the Transport and Mining Departments from the weighbridges, Malniang said the question does not pertain to the department of Legal Metrology.
Congress MLA HM Shangpliang said his question was directed to transport department but the reply is given by the legal metrology department,
“There is a deliberate attempt on the part of the government to dislodge the question”, he said, as he sought to know under whose jurisdiction is weighbridges.
“Who is the Minister to reply to the question?” he asked
He wanted to know why 10 weighbridges run by private individuals were closed down and instead they were entrusted to government.
To this, the Speaker said, “I will not allow the question.”
At this point, Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma stood up and said in such a case the Leader of the House should reply.
The chief minister said the details are not available with him.
The Speaker again intervened and said that when the minister in charge was not able to reply, the chief minister can give the reply and if “he does not have the materials, he can ask for notice”.
The chief minister then said, “We can do that, Sir.”
An adamant Shangpliang demanded an answer on the compelling reason for taking over many weighbridges to which chief minister said that he requires notice.
Mukul said that the matter seems to be complicated and it is an embarrassment to the state. The chief minister then said, “We have been clear that we require notice,” and asserted that there were other questions as well.
However, in the written reply to an un-starred question by Mayralborn Syiem of the Congress, Transport Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said there were 16 weighbridges under the department. The break up is East Khast Hills 2, West Garo Hills, South Garo Hills, North Garo Hills, West Khasi Hills-1, Ri-Bhoi-2 West Jaintia Hills- 3, East Jaintia Hills-2, South West Khasi Hills-3.
The total revenue collected from the weighbridges in the last five years is Rs 21,87,35,587. Eight weighbridges are operated by the Transport Department and eight by licencees.
The Opposition also targeted the state over leakages in revenue and said it should do away with weighbridges in the era of technology.
Later, moving a cut motion, Shangpliang, while discussing about the royalty on major minerals to KHADC and JHADC, said the government can contain the leakages by checking fake challans. Asking the government to review the process of revenue collection, Shang-pliang said truckers are often harassed at weighbridges, which should be set up at entry-exit points.
Alleging that “coal challans are being sold like tea and betel nuts”, the MLA said truckers often flout the 9 metric tonne weight ceiling and carry coal up to 20 metric tonne. Echoing similar views, George Lyngdoh said the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Rules should be amended even as he added that the responsibility of issuing challans should be with the concerned department and not with the Forest department.
