The Meghalaya High Court has asked the State government to use CCTVs at various points where the weighbridges and weigh-pads are installed so that the weights indicated cannot be tampered with or overweight goods vehicles allowed to pass on extraneous considerations.
The High Court also said that the checkpoints should not only verify the weights in vehicles carrying minerals, but the origin and source of the minerals.
During the High Court hearing held on August 23, the State government said that it has set up 28 weighbridges at checkpoints notified by the government in order to control overloading by vehicles including those carrying minerals.
This was stated in the report filed by the State government before the division bench of Meghalaya High Court on a PIL filed by social activist Tennydard M. Marak.
Out of these 28 weighbridges, 24 are under the control of the Transport Department and four have been set up by the Mining and Geology Department.
In addition, the Transport Department said that it has placed orders for six weigh-pads out of which two have been received.
One of the weighing pads has been installed at Dalu in West Garo Hills and the other is being installed at Umtyrnga in Ri-Bhoi.
“It is hoped that the remaining four weigh-pads are installed within the next six weeks. At any rate, the mere fact that there may be 28 weighbridges and six weigh-pads may not count for anything unless regular and honest checking is undertaken,” the High Court said.
The court also expressed happiness that the State government intends to engage the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong for a blueprint to ensure that checkpoints be put up at strategic places to completely arrest the plying of overladen goods vehicles.
“In view of the report and in the hope that adequate steps will now be taken to check the menace that the petitioner complain of, the present petition is closed with liberty to the petitioner to apply afresh in the event the State is found lacking in such regard,” the High Court said.
