Shillong, Oct 25: The Hynniewtrep Trucks Owners’ and Drivers’ Union (HTODU) sought clarifications from the different departments having weighbridges for collecting money which it termed as “illegal” for sealing of the challans without issuing receipts by their respective weighbridges along the national highways of the state.
HTODU has even directed all the truckers not to make such payments if proper receipts were not issued.
“Receipts were never issued at all on such payments collected by the Directorate of Mineral Resources (DMR) and the Sale Tax department at their respective check gates,” HTODU spokesperson Peter Lawai told reporters at a news conference Thursday.
According to Lawai, the DMR is collecting an amount of RS 120 to Rs 150 per truck for the simple reason to seal the challans. This is done at the DMR check gate at Mookyndur, West Jaintia hills district and Umling, Ri Bhoi district. Similarly, the sales tax department is also engaging in the “illegal collection”, he informed
Lawai revealed that the trucks have to get the challans seal twice in the two check gates and pay Rs 240 in these two gates by a truck. He said if a minimum of 1000 trucks pays Rs 240 a day a whooping amount of Rs 24, 00, 00 is being collected from the NH daily.
Lawai said, “We want the two departments to clarify on the motive of the collections by their department as we do not know as to why we have to pay this amount in these two check gates.”
HTODU urged the departments to do away with the illegal collection even as it suggested that necessary arrangement should be made to seal the challans from only one outlet. Lawai informed that the organization has directed all the trucks not to make such payments if proper receipts are not being issued to them.
The organization has also expressed its concern over the double payment of fines that the trucks have to pay for overloading in the two weighbridges – Pasyih, Jaintia hills and Umling, Ri Bhoi district.
Lawai said, “The trucks were made to undergo measurements in these two weighbridges and have to pay fine for overloading ranges from Rs 1000 to Rs 2000 without receipts and the same amount of fine is imposed even if the load exceeds only one ton.”
Lawai wanted to know from the transport department as to why the truckers have to weight and pay in two weighbridges for the same consignment. He said, “We also urged the department to allow the trucks to weight and pay in only one weighbridge.”
HTODU also asked the state government to ensure the implementation of the Supreme Court direction of restricting trucks to carry only 9 ton. – By Our Reporter
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