SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President, Vincent H. Pala, launched a scathing attack on the Voice of the People Party (VPP)-led Executive Committee (EC) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), accusing it of failing to maintain transparency regarding the operation of numerous toll gates.
Pala, responding to the VPP’s rebuttal, clarified his earlier statement about toll collections, stating that he was specifically targeting the District Council’s toll gates, not those managed by Syiems (Traditional Chiefs) or the Hima.
”What I spoke about was precisely the toll gates of the KHADC,” Pala asserted. “I spoke only after obtaining concrete documents from the Chief Forest Officer, which clearly indicated that the Council is operating 25 toll gates directly managed by its own department.”
The Congress President questioned the VPP’s commitment to its core promise of transparent governance.
”The promise of the Voice of People Party was to ensure clear working, yet now there is no transparency and no clear accounting in their administration,” Pala stated. He pointed out a major financial concern:
”Out of the 25 operational toll gates, 8 are generating zero revenue. Why are they not calling for tenders for these? This shows a lack of clarity and accountability.”
Pala emphasized that his accusations were well-researched. “As a leader, before I speak, I ensure I have precise information. Be it on any issue, I do my homework, and I never speak haphazardly anywhere. Even regarding the District Council, I did my homework.”
Pala further alleged that the current VPP EC is operating more toll gates than the previous EC.
”Regarding enforcement, the previous EC used to establish many toll gates, but this was done through a tendering process, where the villages provided an NOC (No Objection Certificate) for collection,” he explained.
However, he claimed the VPP has now set up more gates than the previous EC, which had around 17-18 gates because others failed to secure NOCs. Pala alleged that the VPP is currently running more collection points by directly managing them through the Council’s department.
”The VPP EC must answer. They must state how many toll gates were there previously and how many are operating now. Why are they not calling for tenders? They lack transparency and clear working in this matter. They must provide an answer.”
Pala lashed out at the VPP for resorting to counter-accusations instead of addressing the core issue.
”Instead of debating this point, when I, as the opposition, raise this matter—which is a concern for the public when they promised transparent working—the VPP should correct the mistakes of the past EC and clarify this. Instead, they are levelling counter-allegations,” he stated.
”They must admit how many toll gates they have established, how much profit they are gaining, and how much loss they are incurring. They must call for tenders so the public knows about this operation. Just because they have attained power, acting as they please is unacceptable”.
