Meghalaya: Collecting Toll Taxes in Traditional Manner Should be Allowed; KHADC
The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) decided on Tuesday to write to the state government to allow the council and the Himas to continue collecting their taxes, two days after asking the Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners and Drivers’ Association (MCTO&DA) to substantiate its allegation of “extortion” through illegal toll gates.
“We are aware that we are not allowed to build up gates along the national highways,” Jambor War said following a meeting with Syiems of several Himas from the Eastern West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills, and West Khasi Hills districts and top officials of the council. However, we intend to install similar gates along bye-lanes that are not connected to the national highway”.
They also discussed the DCA department’s directive, he said. The government and India’s National Highways Authority, according to War, are opposed to the gates being built along the national highway. However, gates off the national highway inside the KHADC’s jurisdiction should not be a problem for the government, he noted.
“The council will be able to collect its taxes with the help of these gates.” “The district council is empowered to produce its own funds under the Constitution’s Sixth Schedule,” he explained.
The Himas, according to War, should be permitted to continue collecting in their traditional manner by having their own gates.
Moskalander Marngar, president of the MCTO&DA, recently claimed that the KHADC and the Himas were extorting truckers by erecting 32 illegal toll gates in the Khasi Hills region.
