Meghalaya HC Called For Stricter Norms To Check Overloading Of Vehicles To Further Curb Exploitation Of Natural Resources

The Meghalaya High Court bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W. Diengdoh observed that  stricter set of norms needs to be prepared, both for checking and control, if only to stop the plundering of the bountiful of natural resources available and maintain the integrity of the roads, particularly since the roads are exposed to some of the heaviest rain anywhere in the world. 

In the matter at hand the petitioner had put forth that there is a rampant overloading of goods on vehicles across the state. It was submitted on behalf of the state that there are only a few number of checkposts and the number has gone up to 23. The state further submitted that few of these checkpoints will have weighbridges to check the weight of overloaded vehicles immediately.

The court observed that in the issue of illegal coal mining across the state, even if the locals are driven to it for the want of livelihood , if the illegal transportation was to be arrested, there would be no demand and the illegal mining would come down or stop altogether. The court also observed that there is wanton limestone quarrying also being carried out and thousands of tonnes of minerals are being disposed of without any license being obtained.

The court observed that it is a sorry state of affairs that the executive which is tasked with the duty of protecting and preserving the assets of the State is complicit in the wanton plundering.the court furtehr noted that 23 weighbridges are not enough, particularly since the State is used as a thoroughfare to reach several other States like Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur and even to the Barak Valley in Assam and several of these roads, including some of the key roads or bypasses that lead to the southern North-East States, are in a pitiable state. The extent of the damage is primarily due to overloading of vehicles that the State seems to do little about.

In the light of the aforementioned, the court observed that stricter set of norms needs to be prepared, both for checking and control, if only to stop the plundering of the bountiful of natural resources available and maintain the integrity of the roads, particularly since the roads are exposed to some of the heaviest rain anywhere in the world. 

The court further directed the State Transport Secretary to personally look into the matter and devise a scheme to deal with the menace and allowed the assistance of the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong to prepare a blueprint in such regard. However,the court mentioned that the leave to seek external assistance should not be used as an excuse to indefinitely delay the matter. The Transport Secretary will report on the steps taken when the matter appears next three weeks hence.

CASE: TENNYDARD M. MARAK V. STATE OF MEGHALAYA & ORS

PIL No. 1/2022 with MC (PIL) No. 1/2022