Jowai: The dissatisfaction in the manner of toll fee collection by the NHAI through the Tool Gate in Pasyih-Ïalong West Jaiñtia Hills District led to the Jaiñtia Student Movement (JSM) having to intervene on the matter on the 14th of this month along with the commercial vehicles drivers in order to temporarily stop the collection of toll fee from commercial vehicles until a rate is fixed by the District Administration.
As it is at present, it has been expressed that the toll fee collected by the Toll Gate from one vehicle has gone up to ₹60 and not as per the fixed rate that had been fixed in the past few days at ₹30 per vehicle.
On Wednesday this week, the Deputy Commissioner of WJHD, Garod L.S.N Dykes, (IAS), called for a meeting between the administrators of the said Toll Gate and included also the civil society organisations, the organisation of commercial vehicles drivers, local village administrators of Ïalong and also the Superintendent of Police and other officers of the District.
After the meeting concluded, Ribok Biam, President of JSM, Western Region said that the meeting held today with the administrators of the Toll Gate along with the District Administration was a dead end meeting as the administrators of the Toll Gate could not provide suitable responses as per the demands.
He expressed that in reality the vehicles of local drivers should be allowed to ply without any fee collection as is the practice in other places where Toll Gates are instated, therefore he has urged upon all drivers of commercial vehicles and private vehicles to come forward and join hands in the fulfillment of this demand.
He clearly stated as well that until a clear decison does not ensue from the talks with regard to toll fee payment at the Toll Gate in Ïalong-Pasyih, the commercial vehicles and private vehicles from the District should not pay any fee and he has called upon the public to support and join hands in the event of there being any agitation if this Toll Gate continues to do the same thing until the whole matter is not resolved.
The President of the All Jaiñtia Commercial Vehicles Association (AJCVA), Paila Kordor Lyngkot said that till the demands are not resolved, all commercial vehicles and private vehicles will ply for free, while also stating that this is our land and if other communities do not have to pay any toll fee in their native place then why should not the same apply in Jaiñtia Hills as well.
