We have a separate Act and regulations for the management of tolls, which is why illegal toll gates are not an issue in the Garo Hills. We also have specific regulations for various products
SHILLONG, July 29: Amid growing controversies over illegal toll collections across various parts of Meghalaya, particularly within the jurisdictions of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) has emerged as a model worth emulating.
The GHADC’s structured approach, grounded in separate regulations for toll and market management, has helped the region avoid the kind of disputes and allegations that have plagued other parts of the state.
GHADC Deputy Chief Executive Member Nikman Ch Marak attributed this stability to the legal clarity established through council legislation.
“We have a separate Act and regulations for the management of tolls, which is why illegal toll gates are not an issue in the Garo Hills. We also have specific regulations for various products,” Marak explained.
He further elaborated that under GHADC’s framework, market leases are granted with clearly defined provisions, eliminating the need for lessees to arbitrarily install toll gates.
“When we give market leases, there’s no need to set up toll gates at the market. We created our system based on Paragraph 6 of the Sixth Schedule, and collection is done in accordance with Paragraph 8, so there’s no scope for conflict within the state,” he said.
The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution grants special autonomy to tribal areas in the Northeast, empowering district councils to legislate on matters such as land, forests, markets, and revenue collection. According to Marak, GHADC has made deliberate and effective use of these provisions to ensure transparency and functionality in its toll and market systems.
“We always aim to adopt sound legislation. For instance, the Sixth Schedule, a British-era constitutional provision, was wisely incorporated by India’s constitutional framers. Good governance models—no matter where they originate from—should be embraced if they benefit the people,” Marak stated.
Calling for a spirit of mutual learning among all district councils, he added, “It would be good if others adopt similar models. We have adopted some elements from Assam and even from KHADC. It is beneficial to adapt and use what works in the interest of the people.”
These remarks come at a time when transporters and civil society organisations have been raising strong objections to alleged rampant extortion at illegal toll gates in areas outside the Garo Hills. With public outcry intensifying, there is growing demand for systemic reforms across all autonomous district councils in the state.