Congress to move court over arbitrary weighbridge charges, says VPP adds new ‘ATMs’

Congress chief and former Shillong MP Vincent H Pala has lashed out at the state government and the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) for allegedly erecting multiple checkpoints, dubbing them “ATMs” that extort money from truckers and the public.

Pala claimed that the number of checkpoints has increased since the Voice of the People Party (VPP) came to power in KHADC, with at least 10 new gates added to the existing 24-25, resulting in unchecked corruption and harassment of drivers.

“The gates, once exclusive “ATMs” for other political parties, have now become a lucrative source of revenue for VPP as well, with the party adding more checkpoints to its tally. Previously, the district council had around 24-25 gates; however, since VPP’s ascension to power in KHADC, an additional ten gates have been erected, further exacerbating the situation,” he said.

He said the public is bearing the brunt of this, with prices of essential commodities skyrocketing.

According to him, it’s shameful to see trucks being stopped at every weighbridge, with drivers forced to pay exorbitant amounts without receipts or checks.

“A staggering number of checkpoints dot the bypass routes, with numerous gates springing up within short distances – 20 kilometers on (Shillong bypass) and a mere 7 kilometers on Jowai bypass,” Pala said adding “A more streamlined approach to revenue collection was warranted, yet the government has instead allowed a plethora of checkpoints to proliferate, often linked to ministers, MLAs, MDCs, and forest, resulting in a complex web of extortion. Meghalaya stands out for its ubiquitous weighbridges, where trucks are routinely stopped and coerced into paying arbitrary sums, often without proper checks or receipts, as seen in Mukhla, Khliehtyrshi, and Umling.”

He expressed concern over the plight of outstation drivers, who are often assaulted due to lack of awareness about the rules.

Pala announced that Congress has decided to file Right to Information (RTI) applications to gather evidence of the alleged corruption and extortion, with the intention of taking the matter to court.

“The party will file RTI applications soon, seeking transparency in government notifications and weighbridge rates. Our legal team is finalizing the RTIs, which will be submitted to relevant departments, aiming to uncover discrepancies in the current system. Specifically, we’re seeking clarification on the government-notified rates, as drivers claim to be paying Rs 2000 at weighbridges. Given the high traffic volume on national highways, we’ll pursue this matter vigorously,” he stated.

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