SHILLONG: The Meghalaya government has taken a firm stand against the ongoing protest by the Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners and Drivers Association (MCTODA), asserting that while the right to protest is protected, the obstruction of the National Highway (NH) is illegal and unacceptable.
Both the Deputy Chief Ministers (DCMs), Prestone Tynsong (in charge of Police/Home) and Sniawbhalang Dhar (in charge of Transport), have clarified that the government has no jurisdiction to enforce its fixed freight rates outside the state.
Police Action Taken Against Highway Blockade
DCM Prestone Tynsong condemned the MCTODA’s decision to block the National Highway at Mawryngkneng, East Khasi Hills, following an earlier protest in East Jaintia Hills. He emphasized that blocking traffic, especially goods-carrying trucks, on the National Highway is an infringement of the law.
”Everyone has the right to protest, but no one has the right to obstruct the movement of vehicles or goods-carrying trucks on the National Highway,” he stated.
Tynsong revealed that the protest is fueled by MCTODA’s demand for the state-fixed transportation rate for cement factories to be implemented across the border in Assam—a demand the Meghalaya government has no power to fulfill. He confirmed that the district authorities had consulted with the MCTODA multiple times. He also backed the police action, confirming the arrest of four individuals under relevant legal provisions, and warned that more arrests would follow if the protest continues to violate the law.
He appealed, “I invite the protesters to come for talks to resolve the matter.”
Cement Factories Adhering to State Rates
Meanwhile, DCM Sniawbhalang Dhar backed the industry, confirming that cement factories in Jaintia Hills are already adhering to the transportation rates fixed by the Meghalaya Government.
He detailed the government-fixed rates based on a November 5, 2020, notification from the DC’s Office, East Jaiñtia Hills:
₹11 per metric ton per kilometer on paved roads.
₹12 per metric ton per kilometer on shingle/gravel roads.
₹14 per metric ton per kilometer on earthen roads.
Dhar confirmed that a report he commissioned shows all cement factories are paying these rates. He stressed that the MCTODA’s core demand—to apply the same rate in Assam—is not feasible because Assam is outside the Meghalaya Government’s regulatory domain and falls under Central Government laws.
”The MCTODA demands that the same rate must also be implemented in Assam, and this demand… cannot be fulfilled because Assam does not fall under the purview of the Meghalaya Government’s regulation,” he reiterated.
Dhar clarified that the issue is primarily a dispute “between the cement factories and the truck drivers” and not a government matter, but the government’s duty is to ensure the free flow of traffic. He urged MCTODA to engage in dialogue instead of causing public disruption.
