A new body representing truck owners and drivers, the Local Truck Association (LTA), was formally launched today, with cabinet minister Hamletson Dohling as the adviser.
The association’s members hail from Mylliem, Laitkor, Smit, Mawngap, Mawmaram and Mawjrong. Ricky Pathaw is the chairman, T Khariir the president and Nicky Kurkalang the general secretary.
The LTA lamented that, though engaged in important work, drivers often face harassment in the performance of their duties.
“We mostly load sand, pebbles and stones from Upper Shillong areas and, on dropping them off in the city, face huge problems. Some localities won’t allow us to enter during the day time, others won’t allow us to offload during the night. This is such a huge hindrance to us,” Pathaw said.
Dohling said that as the adviser, Mylliem MLA and cabinet minister, he will personally take up the matter with the authorities and will soon communicate with the Shillong Traffic Police to try and find a solution to the grievances of the LTA.