Meghalaya Stands Still with Indefinite Commercial Vehicle Strike

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Joint Action Committee of Commercial Vehicles (MJACCV) called an indefinite strike on Wednesday, in protest against the government's refusal to reconsider their demands of reduction in tax rates and revision of taxi fares.

The two-pronged demands by the committee members comes in the heels of the steep rise in fuel prices lately.

The indefinite strike called by the MJACCV hit the state, particularly the city, with as many as 25,000 commercial vehicles remaining off the road on Wednesday.

The strike crippled normal life as commuters depending on public transport were left stranded in different parts of the city.

Owning to the strike, attendance in most government offices was lower than normal with many employees unable to turn up for work due to the strike by the commercial vehicle association.

Wandonbok Jyrwa, Chairman of the MJACCV, confirmed that the strike would be indefinite as the state government has neither called the committee for discussions nor taken any steps to address the concerns of the commercial drivers. He said that the strike will continue until the issue is resolved. He, however, understood that difficulties faced by commuters due to the strike.

He also added that with the old rates still in place, commercial drivers find it difficult to ply their vehicles in face of the increasing petrol prices.

The commercial drivers want the government to change passenger fares and reduce taxes by 50 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya State Coordination Committee of Transport Operators, Owners and Drivers Associations and the Meghalaya Peoples' Labour Union (MPLU) held a meeting on Wednesday. Erwin K. Syiem Sutnga, president of Meghalaya Peoples' Labour Union (MPLU) presided over the meeting.

The tourist taxi associations and organisations as well as the drivers were represented by Anthrolious Marak and Shidaji Dey, general secretary, All Shillong Tourist Taxi Drivers United Organisation, Justin Lyngdoh, president and Bashkar Deb of Khasi Hills Tourist Taxi Association and other tourist taxi organisations.

The members focused on the difficulties that passengers in the state will undergo due to the strike, especially those who have made advance travel plans, specially for medical treatment outside the state. The associations also released a statement saying that they are negotiating with the state transport department regarding the problems faced by the members of the tourist taxi associations. The statement also said that all tourist taxi vehicles would operate as usual and a request would be made to the state government to negotiate with the central government for a new subsidy to reduce the price of petrol, diesel and LPG cylinders for Meghalaya, which is landlocked and depends on road transportation of passengers and goods.

The associations also appealed to the state government to bring down the state component of fuel taxes to give relief to the people.

The indefinite strike has also affected life and commercial activities in West Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills, causing inconvenience to the public at large. Some tourist vehicles were seen plying on the Jowai- Ladrymbai and Jowai- Khliehriat routes. The drivers claimed that they had not been informed about the strike, but assured that they would keep their vehicles off the roads on Thursday.

Meanwhile, West Khasi Hills District Magistrate T. Lyngwa enforced Section 144CrPC on Wednesday prohibiting any type of pressure, intimidation and unwarranted influence by any person or group of persons with the intention to disturb the free flow of traffic and commercial activities of transporters and also with an intention to disturb peace and normal life in the district.

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