Vehicles carrying fuel, LPG to withdraw services if illegal toll gates not dismantled in Garo Hills
SHILLONG: The Goalpara Truck Owner’s Association (GTOA) has threatened to withdraw the services of trucks carrying fuel and LPG cylinders into Meghalaya if the State Government does not take action against flourishing “illegal toll gates” along NH-62 in Garo Hills within seven days.
The GTOA which enjoys the support of North Eastern Truck Owners’ Association and the labour unions also decided to move the Centre on the issue.
“We would move the Centre to spill the names of people involved in this racket of running illegal toll gates,” GTOA president Abul Kalam Hussain told reporters during a press conference here on Tuesday. Hussain also submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma demanding action against those involved in the “racket”.
The GTOA president, however, refused to divulge the names of those involved to the media.
“We will spill it when we reach Delhi,” he said.
While stating that there are as many as 39 toll gates in Garo Hills, Hussain said that the Association would demand a CBI inquiry into the matter.
The GTOA president informed that there are 21 toll gates (including the DMR and sales tax toll gates) in North Garo Hills, 10 in East Garo Hills and four in South Garo Hills.
“There are separate toll gates for empty trucks with three in North Garo Hills, four in East Garo Hills and a toll gate which belongs to the police department in South Garo Hills,” he said.
Hussain further alleged that each truck has to shelve out around Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000 in North Garo Hills alone without the issuance of receipts. “On a daily basis, more than 500 trucks ply to Garo Hills from Assam and the illegal toll gates collect around Rs 1.75 crore per day,” he alleged. The GTOA president was apprehensive that coal laden trucks are allowed to move only at night for illegal collectors to take advantage of the situation.
“There are around 200 people in each of these toll gates. What can drivers and handymen do to stop the collections,” he questioned.
