Khasi blockade hits NH traffic

As the six-day Khasi Students Union sponsored dusk to dawn road blockade began on Tuesday

As the six-day Khasi Students Union (KSU) sponsored dusk to dawn road blockade began on Tuesday, hundreds of coal and lime stone laden trucks, vehicles carrying essential commodities and thousands of passenger and private vehicles would be affected along the national highways. It would also affect Tripura, Mizoram and Barak Valley in Assam.

East Khasi Hills SP (City) M Kharkhrang told The Indian Express that security arrangements including precautionary measures have been made. He said people travelling at night would be provided police escorts if they ask. Kharkhrang added that security has been beefed up along the National Highway 40 and National Highway 44.

As the showdown between the Congress led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) coalition Government headed by Chief Minister D D Lapang and Khasi Students Union (KSU) began over the arrest of five students’ leaders in a police raid to apprehend the students’ body members. Top KSU leaders including its president Samuel Jyrwa have gone underground. Kharkhrang said the raid would continue.

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Directorate of Mineral Resources (DMR) Director H Shangpliang said that around 600 coal laden trucks would be affected due to the blockade. As the coal laden trucks are allowed to ply only during the night through Shillong, the Government would also be losing on royalty. The state Government gets Rs 165 for every ton of coal and the trucks usually carry around 15 tons of coal every day. Therefore, the government stands to lose around Rs.14, 85, 000 everyday. Shangpliang said, He said the trucks carrying limestone have not been counted.

State Transport Commissioner M S Lhuid said that around 5000 vehicles that ply through the two National Highways would be affected. He said, “The most affected would be vehicles plying in the Shillong-Guwahati roads and those going to Mizoram, Tripura and Barak Valley.”