NCP MLA seeks ouster of Sniawbhalang Dhar over illegal weighbridges  

Shillong, Jul 23: The NCP legislator, Saleng Sangma, has asked Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to remove Transport Minister  Sniawbhalang Dhar from the cabinet for the alleged illegal operation of weighbridges.

Saleng wanted the CBI to probe the illegal operation of weigh bridges along National Highway-6.

The matter was raised by Shillong MP Vincent Pala in Parliament.

In his response,  Dhar denied any illegality in the functioning of weighbridges in the state and added that all the weighbridges operated in Meghalaya are legal as per Meghalaya Weighbridge Policy,
2018.

“The functioning of the weighbridges are all permitted by the government of Meghalaya,”
Dhar said.

Regarding the demand for a CBI probe into the matter as raised by Pala in the parliament, Dhar said, “it is upto the government to decide on the matter.”
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari had informed on Thursday in Lok Sabha that there were several illegal weigh bridges operating on National Highway 6 in Meghalaya run by the state government.
The reply of Gadkari was in response to a question raised by Pala in the parliament.
According to Saleng, it is embarrassing for the state that such illegal act was discussed in the parliament.

He also demanded CBI probe into the matter and punishment to erring officials.

In the written reply,  Gadkari mentioned the number of weigh bridges being set up along NH-6 without access permission except for the weighbridge-cum-check post at Umtyra.
Four out of five weighbridges have not been granted permission”, he said.

“The illegal weighbridges have damaged the national highway due to construction work, causing blockage of drains/culverts and subsequent traffic disruptions. The Meghalaya government has
been requested several times to rectify all the damages for overall safety of the road users,” the
union minister said.
Pala wanted the government to close down all illegal weighbridges.
“The government must close down these illegal weighbridges. How can the state government
run these weighbridges without permission from the National Highways Authority of India,” Pala said