Meghalaya govt offers to renew talks with agitating JACC

Shillong, Feb 19 (UNI) Meghalaya Transport Minister Manirul Islam Sarkar today extended another invitation for dialogue with the agitating Joint Action Coordination Committee (JACC) to sort out the issue of fixing the rate of High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) on all vehicles.

The JACC, a conglomerate of various transport associations, imposed the blockade after the ruling government failed to decide on the HSRP rates, as suggested by them.

The state government has fixed Rs 2000 for the registration plates, while the JACC suggested Rs 825 for heavy vehicle and Rs 425 and Rs 460 for small and light vehicles respectively.

''I have extended my invitation to them, once again, to sort out the issue amicably,'' Mr Sarkar told UNI here, adding, that if the JACC members refused to accept the offer, the government has no option but to act against them.

Mr Sarkar's invitation to the JACC members came after the latter called an indefinite night road blockade from 1900 to 0600 hours from February 21, in protest against the government's attitude towards the issue.

The blockade will affect the state, including the NH 40 and 44, the lifeline of Mizoram, Tripura, Barak Valley of Asom and parts of Manipur.

''We have decided not to reciprocate to the government's invitation,'' JACC Chairman Augustine Shanpru told UNI over the phone here today.

He also maintained that the JACC would go ahead with its proposed road blockade.

Mr Shanpru said it would be meaningless to hold talks with the government unless the government changed its stand on the issue.

''Five rounds of talks were held between us and the government, but it was in vain,'' the JACC leader said.

Meanwhile, the Shimnit Utsch India Private Limited, the company, implementing the HSRP in the state, has termed the JACC's road blockade as 'illegal'.

Shimnit said that the rates for the HSRP could not be uniform throughout the country, adding that the rates depend on the vehicular population of the state.

UNI