Refusing to accept the clarification made by the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) that outsourcing its forest revenue stations to Sevenborn Tang has seen a significant improvement in revenue generation, the Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) called the explanation a “cover up”.
The organisation said it stands by the information received through the RTI.
HITO general secretary Wanbun N Dkhar said it is surprising that the district council operates a weighbridge cum forest checkpoint at Sonapur and a forest beat office at Ratacherra, which is in violation of the Control of National Highway (Land & Trafic) Act, 2022. He said the district council has no permission to erect checkpoints from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway, National Highway Authority of India.
Dkhar said as per the RTI and the JHADC budget 2025-2026, there are three weighbridges one each in Mookyndur, Sonapur and Dawki.
“As per the budget, the district council earlier earned Rs 11.50 lakh from the weighbridge cum forest check point, but slumped to Rs 5 lakh after outsourcing,” he said.
HITO reiterated that the weighbridge cum forest checkpoint at Sonapur and the forest beat office should be shut down.
Co-founder of the organisation Lawyerson War said the clarification is vague and does not tally with the RTI reply.
He announced that a signature campaign will be held, subject to permission from the district administration, against corruption in the JHADC.
