By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, June 26: Opposition MDC, Grace Mary Kharpuri, has questioned the establishment of a KHADC toll gate, which was recently closed by the Ri-Bhoi district administration at Umdihar on National Highway-6.
Speaking during the Question Hour on the final day of the Council’s Summer Session on Thursday, Kharpuri said, “I don’t believe the district administration would shut down the toll gate without properly examining the matter.”
Referring to a court ruling that prohibits the establishment of toll or check gates directly along national highways, Kharpuri further questioned the Executive Committee (EC) on how it could justify that the toll gate at Umdihar was not illegal.
Responding to the query, Executive Member (EM) in-charge of Trade, Winston Tony Lyngdoh, stated that the district administration used force to close the toll gate without issuing any prior official communication or notice to the KHADC.
“I want to reiterate that the gate at Umdihar is not illegal. It has existed for several years. The EC is still awaiting a formal communication from the Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi,” Lyngdoh said.
Maintaining that the KHADC is a constitutional body and its members are elected representatives, Lyngdoh said, “We cannot act based solely on verbal information or media reports. We require written clarification from the district administration.”
He added that operations at the Umdihar gate have been kept in abeyance until official communication is received.
Lyngdoh clarified that the toll gate was not set up directly on the highway but on a by-lane approximately 15 metres away from it.
He cited a similar case in the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), where a legal counsel had also confirmed in court that a check gate was located 15 metres off the highway.
“We understand the importance of keeping highways free from obstruction. The lessee at Umdihar has been clearly instructed to set up the gate 15 metres away from the highway,” Lyngdoh said.
He assured the Council that the EC would not act in violation of any court order or legal provisions. “We will not establish any check gate that goes against the law,” he said.