SHILLONG, April 14: Home Minister in-charge of District Council Affairs (DCA), Lahkmen Rymbui on Thursday admitted that the state government had no information on whether the illegal toll gates operated by the KHADC and the JHADC on national and state highways have been shut down after the government sent two notices to the Councils to close them down.
“We issued two orders from the DCA to the KHADC and the JHADC to close down all illegal toll gates on national highways and state roads,” Rymbui said.
His statement gains significance as it comes at a time when the Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners and Drivers Association (MCTO&DA) has alleged that the KHADC and the Himas are involved in rampant extortion from truckers through 32 illegal toll gates in the Khasi Hills region.
MCTO&DA president, Moskalander Marngar had alleged that truckers were being forced to pay anywhere between Rs 18,000 to Rs 20,000 while plying through the illegal toll gates and are threatened with pistols and other weapons on refusal to pay.
Speaking on the allegation, Rymbui said it was clear indication that the illegal gates are still operating and people are being extorted.
On February 25 this year, the Joint Secretary of District Council Affairs department had written to the deputy commissioners of all districts, directing them to take necessary action for the closure of all toll gates erected by the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) or authorities acting under them, including traditional bodies, on national highways, state highways and major district roads.
The department said the power to collect toll/taxes by the ADCs and the traditional institutions under them is confined to their area of jurisdiction and does not extend to national highways and state roads, over which the Public Works Department has jurisdiction.