Tura, Feb 2: Former Kharkutta MDC in the GHADC Smith M Momin has filed a complaint to the Meghalaya Home Minister seeking immediate attention to an alleged illegally operating weighbridge on National Highway-217 (earlier NH-62) at Wa’geasi in North Garo Hills District.
According to Momin, the said weighbridge is being run in the name of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC). However, Momin alleged that although GHADC staff is posted at the site, the money collected from vehicles does not reach it.
“The revenue is allegedly taken by private individuals, and GHADC has reportedly not received any share from this operation. This raises serious doubts about collusion and misuse of authority and calls for an independent inquiry. What is even more troubling is that the weighing machine at the site is reportedly not functioning at all. Despite this, trucks and goods vehicles are stopped on the highway and charged fixed amounts. Transporters are forced to pay without any actual weighing. This practice has become a source of harassment and illegal extraction of money on a National Highway,” Momin claimed.
Momin pointed out that the illegal set up violated the National Highways Act, 1956 and Section 114 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 as well as goes against recent rulings of the Guwahati High Court and the Supreme Court.
Momin, in his complaint sought the immediate closure and removal of the illegal weighbridge, a direction for an independent and high level inquiry, the ordering of an audit of all the money collected from the said weighbridge and the initiation of criminal and departmental action against all those found guilty.
