The Meghalaya High Court today said that the failure to check overloaded vehicles has resulted in the State government bleeding in maintaining roads, particularly given the rainfall in the State and road surface being water-soluble.
The division bench of the court made the observation while hearing the PIL filed by social activist Tennydard M. Marak.
During the hearing, the State government admitted that the requisite mechanism for checking overloaded vehicles is not in place. It also informed the court that there are 14 weighbridges across the State which are operated by private parties after floating of tenders.
However, the petitioner has brought irrefutable and impeachable evidence of several of such weighbridges not being functional or operational. He also pointed out that no roadmap was indicated by the State government as to when the appropriate measures would be put in place to ensure that overloading of goods vehicles is stopped.
“A lot more attention is needed in such regard, if only to ensure that the cost of maintenance of roads is partially realised from the penalties imposed on overloaded vehicles or the deterioration in road conditions is arrested by altogether prohibiting the movement of overloaded vehicles,” the High Court said.
The court also listed the matter for hearing on February 7, 2023. During the next hearing, the State government will have to inform the court about any serious steps taken to stop overloading by vehicles.
