JAC serves deadline

SHILLONG, NOV 3: The Joint Action Committee on Indigenous People’s Economic Rights (JACIPER) has served an eight-day ultimatum to the state government to ban the entry of trucks coming from outside the state which are without trading license.

The JACIPER, which is a conglomeration of local trucker associations and seven NGOs, was formed at a meeting organized by the Meghalaya Commercial Vehicles’ Union (MCVU) at 7^th Mile, West Jaintia Hills District on Thursday.

“We demand the state transport department and also the KHADC and JHADC to prohibit the entry of trucks coming from outside the state which fails to obtain the trading license,” JAC chairman Handle Mukhim told reporters at a press conference held here on Friday.

He informed that the JAC has decided to give the authorities concerned to take necessary steps on the matter within November 10.

“If there is no response from them, we will be compelled to take stern decision at a meeting to be convened at 7^th Mile on November 9,” Mukhim, who is also the president of the MCVU, said.

On the other hand, MCVU chief adviser Peter Lawai said that yesterday’s meeting had also resolved to write to all the cement manufacturing companies located at Lumshnong in East Jaintia Hills District to stick to the approved transportation rate fixed by the transport department.

Asked, he said that the trucks coming from outside the state and carrying cement are illegally operating in the state because most of them are without trading license from the district councils and also fails to obtain special permit from the transport department.

Lawai also alleged that these trucks are also plying in the state just with the no-objection certificate (NOC) issued by the cement companies, which is not acceptable.

According to him, this has to a great extent affected the local truck owners, who now depends their livelihood mainly on transporting of cement products, following the ban on coal mining by the NGT in the state.

He further lambasted the two district councils – KHADC and JHADC for failing to protect the interest of the local indigenous people.

“How can the district councils issue trading license to these trucks from outside the state when many of the local people are also doing the same trade,” he said while referring to the Trading by Non-Tribal Regulation Act.

By Our Reporter