The Hynñiewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) has set a week deadline to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) to shut down toll gates installed along the national highways.
According to the pressure group, there are 18 toll gates leased out by the district council during 2022-2023.
“We have never heard of any tenders or advertisements to man the gates but they sprung up national highways and people close to the MDCs, EMs, CEMs or those of the so-called high level collect taxes to fill their own coffers,” HNYF, East Khasi Hills president Bless Dkhar said at a press conference.
He stated that taxes collected from the toll gates have not benefitted the district council. “There is no point in having a district council when it cannot provide accountability and transparency,” he added.
The high court has not allowed opening of such toll gates and even the ministry of highways considers it illegal, he said, adding, the organisation will write to the Chief Secretary and threatened to close down the toll gates themselves, if the authority fails to act.
It may be mentioned that in June last year, the state government had ordered the KHADC and JHADC to close all of their toll gates that have been set up on national highways, state highways and state roads, failing which action will be taken by the relevant districts.
Although the government accepted that the district councils could collect tolls, it is illegal for them to do so on highways and state roads.
Following the order the KHADC argued that it will lose out on revenue of up to Rs 20 lakh if it has to close all of its toll gates.
