Meghalaya govt gears up to face 60-hour road blockade

Shillong, Apr 15 (UNI) Security has been tightened in Meghalaya in view of the Joint Action Coordination Committee's (JACC) proposed 60-hour road blockade protesting against the new rates of High Security Registration Plate (HSRP).

The blockade would be from 0600 hours of April 17 to 1700 hrs of April 19, affecting the state's Khasi-Jaintia hills, including the NH 40 and 44, the life-line of Mizoram, Tripura, Barak Valley of Asom and parts of Manipur, JACC chairman Augustine Shanpru said.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure that there was no obstruction on movement of vehicles along the National Highways, Shillong Superintendent of Police H Kharkrang told UNI here today.

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

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

Chief Minister D D Lapang had told the Assembly that the government would consider reduction of the HSRP rates following the opposition from NGOs.

The government has termed the 60-hour blockade by the JACC as ''totally uncalled for''.

The government was also firm that under no circumstances should public life be disrupted and district administration has been directed to maintain law and order at all cost to ensure that normal life prevails, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister W M S Pariat said in a press statement here.

UNI