SHILLONG:
The Division Bench of the Meghalaya High Court expressed hope that the 23 weighbridges the State promised to make functional would be in place before the matter appears next on June 16.
Hearing a PIL on May 3, the Court also stated that weigh-pads, which, according to the State, would cost Rs 27 lakh each, should also be procured to be used at strategic points.
The Court stated, “As observed earlier, the number of weighbridges and checking places should be increased. Indeed, electronic weigh-pads as indicated by the State should be introduced at several more places, including places where boulders are carried and roads leading to the land customs stations.”
Pursuant to the order dated March 31, 2023, a report has been filed by the State which indicated that awareness programmes have been conducted among officials and other stakeholders to ensure that overloaded vehicles do not take to the State or national highways in Meghalaya.
The Court also noted that there is a press release issued on April 17, 2023, indicating the types of vehicles, the axle combination of such vehicles and the revised permissible net weight for each category. The press release, issued under Section 194 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, also provides for excess load being offloaded immediately upon discovery at the owner’s or transporter’s cost.
The matter will appear on June 16, 2023.