Truck owners and drivers have flagged rampant collection of taxes along the Mawmaram-Lad Umsaw road by groups and individuals and warned of action, regardless of any consequence.
The Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners and Driver Association President Mosklander Marngar said the matter was taken up with the police to identify and act against those responsible.
He said the association has earlier met with the new VPP-led EC in the KHADC and will soon meet the CEM again to discuss the toll gate set up by the district council and the Hima Mylliem.
The association has also expressed concerns over the recent directive by the Deputy Commissioner, restricting trucks carrying over 9 tons from using the Mawmaram-Lad Umsaw route.
Marngar said that the restriction is unclear, as even a six tyre truck already weighs around 8-9 tons, leaving them confused about how much goods they can carry.
He said the Mawmaram-Lad Umsaw road is the backbone for transporting materials to areas like East-West, South-West, West Khasi Hills, Sohra, and Pynursla and urged that concerned stakeholders should be consulted before imposing such restrictions, as they are the ones affected.
Meanwhile, the association from the Jaintia region has warned coke and cement factories against using their own transport to ferry materials stating that this has severely impacted the livelihood of local truck drivers and owners.
According to Smen Kyndait, a member of the association, big companies owning these factories are using their own vehicles to transport materials from Meghalaya to Assam, causing significant distress to local drivers and owners.
The association has set May 6 to the factories to address their concerns, warning of a strike if their demands are not met.
