Highway extortion inquiry

SHILLONG, MAR 4:Meghalaya  chief minister Mukul Sangma said a  probe has been ordered on the alleged illegal collection and extortion along the national highways in Garo hills region.  The decision to institute an inquiry came following the representations submitted by Assam based truckers associations recently.

“I have issued an order to institute an inquiry based on their representation and instruction have been given to the chief secretary,” Sangma told reporters on the sideline of a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Several thousand coal truckers from Assam under the banner of the  Goalpara District Truck Owners’ Association (GDTOA) had recently threatened to stop plying through the  National Highway 62 and 37 connecting Meghalaya and Assam demanding the two state government’s action against ‘excessive illegal toll collection’ at several unauthorized gates erected along the road.

The truckers had also threatened to take up the matter with the central government and demand CBI inquiry into the illegal collections if the state governments refuse to take necessary steps to address the problem.

Sangma, however, claims that certain direction based on inputs have been given prior to this demand.

“Another instruction has also been given because there is a standing order making it incumbent upon the respective deputy commissioners to enforce the order of the government to ensure that all those instances of illegal collection or illegal extortion is not allowed within their respective jurisdiction and in the event of any such instances, responsibility will be fixed,” Sangma said.

Sangma said this order has again been reminded and informed that he is expecting reports from every deputy commissioners on this before the government take any further decision on this issue.- By Our Reporter