The fight by truckers against illegal toll gates on National Highways in the state is not directed at any one political party, the Meghalaya Commercial Trucks Owners and Drivers Association (MCTODA) has said.
A meeting was convened today by the Ri-Bhoi Deputy Commissioner with MCTODA leaders to discuss the 16 toll gates in the district, which the association has repeatedly raised concerns over, citing rampant extortion at these points.
The MCTODA delegation was led by its president, Mosklandar Marngar.
The main agenda of the meeting was to deliberate on the existence of as many as 16 toll collection points in Ri-Bhoi where truck drivers have allegedly been subjected to illegal extortion – with each gate reportedly charging truckers between Rs 200 up to Rs 500 illegally.
Toll gates of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) cannot be set up on National Highways or state Public Works Department (PWD) roads. The Ri-Bhoi DC was at the centre of action taken against one such toll gate two months ago when the district administration closed one at Umdihar because it was situated on the highway.
Some supporters of the Voice of the People Party (VPP), which is in power in the KHADC, see the action taken and campaign against the toll gates as evidence of a conspiracy against the party.
Speaking to reporters today, Marngar, however, said that MCTODA does not want the issue to become political. He explained that the fight against these toll gates is not new -the gates have been in place since 2019 during the United Democratic Party-led executive committee, which even led to violent clashes that left some members in hospital. Later, during the National People’s Party-led EC, the protest against these toll gates continued. And now, under the current VPP-led EC, these gates still exist. Therefore, the association is appealing for their suspension as they severely affect the livelihood of the people in many ways.
Marngar remarked that the KHADC is like a sword and it depends on how it is wielded, either with skill or recklessness; if wielded properly, it can protect and uplift the community.
He further appealed to VPP chief Ardent M Basaiawmoit (an experienced politician) to guide his party members in the KHADC (many of whom are first-timers in elected office) on the laws of the land.
