Shillong (Meghalaya), Nov 7: A tense standoff between the Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners and Drivers Association (MCTODA) and the state government has brought the region to a grinding halt. The MCTODA’s indefinite strike, now in its 12 th day, has crippled cement transportation, leaving construction projects and industries in a bind.
The bone of contention is the transportation rates for cement and clinker. MCTODA is demanding a uniform rate of ₹9 per tonne per km for both intra-state and inter-state transportation. However, the state government maintains that it can only regulate rates within Meghalaya’s borders.
The situation turned violent on Wednesday when police fired tear gas and lathi-charged protesters who were blocking National Highway 6 at Mawryngkneng. Several people were injured, and four were arrested, including MCTODA president Moskalander Marngar.
The government has urged MCTODA to return to the negotiating table, but the association remains resolute. Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar clarified that the government-notified rates apply only within Meghalaya and cannot be enforced in other states.
The strike has received support from other groups, including the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association, which has threatened to disrupt the upcoming Cherry Blossom Festival if the government does not heed the truckers’ demands. As the standoff continues, the region waits with bated breath for a resolution to the crisis.
