SHILLONG, May 14: In the wake of local commercial vehicle drivers purportedly losing out on earnings, BJP leader and cabinet minister Sanbor Shullai has suggested that the government should formulate a regulation on the entry of tourist taxis from outside the state into Meghalaya.
Shullai pointed out that tourist taxis from outside, especially Assam, continue to operate on the routes to tourist places within Meghalaya.
“We need to discuss this matter even though I am not a Transport Minister. I think there is a need to pressure the Transport minister to take note of this issue,” Shullai said, while addressing a function of the oath-taking ceremony of the new office-bearers of East Khasi Hills Local Taxi Welfare Association at the conference hall of the Shillong Polytechnic on Saturday.
He emphasised that the Meghalaya government needs to take note of this issue since it is affecting the earnings of local commercial vehicle drivers.
On the sidelines at the programme, Sanbor Shullai, who is in-charge of Prisons, revealed that he was happy about being able to help former MLA, Julius Dorphang, who is serving a jail term at Nongpoh district jail.
The minister, however, did not provide details on what kind of assistance he had given to Dorphang.
Dorphang was sentenced to 25 years in jail for raping a minor in 2017 when he was an MLA.
Recalling his arrests on multiple occasions in the past when he was a member of the KSU and FKJGP, Shullai claimed that the government had given him the charge of Prisons on account of his experiences.
“Ever since I have taken over the department, you can see the undertrial prisoners both men and women have become very healthy,” the minister in-charge of Prisons said.
Stating that he has warned officials to not swindle the funds meant for undertrial prisoners, the minister claimed that the inmates are being served with healthy food.
“I have found that the funds meant for the undertrial prisoners are being swindled. I felt this is not right,” Shullai said.
Earlier, KSU president Lambokstar Marngar said that the state government should ensure that all vehicles entering the state should be parked at the ISBT. “This will also help address the traffic congestion,” Marngar said.
