By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 16: Taking the state government to task, the Voice of the People Party (VPP) has come down heavily on the Home department as well as the administration for allegedly not doing much to address the issue of illegal toll gates in the state.
The VPP leader held the Home department accountable for closing down any illegal check gate. He said, “It is not just that you write a letter asking the district council to close (the illegal toll gates). If it is illegal, just close it. It is the duty of the Home department to do that and if it cannot ensure law and order, then what kind of governance do we have?” said VPP Spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh on Saturday.
“It all boils down to the question of whether we have a democratic or non democratic government or whether we have a government based on democratic principles or not,” he added.
Emphasising that anything should operate on the basis of the rule of law, the VPP Spokesperson called the Home department “incapable of ensuring that law and order.”
“It is unfortunate and condemnable. We strongly oppose this kind of administration. This is not something which concerns just the political party. Any person who believes in democracy should be alarmed and condemn such an environment,” he added.
The state government had recently asserted that illegal toll gates have ceased to operate on the state and national highways. However, the government’s claims were short-lived as the Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners & Drivers Association (MCTO&DA) claimed that illegal toll gates were still in operation. MCTO&DA president Moskalander Marngar had claimed that 30 odd toll gates of the Council are currently in operation, but these do not collect any fixed amount from trucks. He claimed truckers are asked to pay Rs 300 during the day but the amount goes up to Rs 1,000 at night.
He alleged that the truckers are being exploited. He said even after paying at the toll gate run by the KHADC, they are forced to pay at the toll gate of the Hima Mylliem.
MCTO&DA also told the KHADC that the Association will not pay at any of the toll gates of the Council until it finalises the working plan with the state government.
After meeting KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pyniaid Sing Syiem at his chamber recently, Marngar told reporters that the KHADC is expected to finalise the working plan within December.