Collection of pelties: Government became richer by Rs 6.30 cr

Staff Correspondent
Shillong, April 1: The Meghalaya government earned Rs 6.30 crore in the past five years through pelties on vehicles involved in violation of traffic rules. Maximum of the vehicles (four and two whelers) pelized was in East Khasi Hills where an amount of Rs 3.76 crore was realized from the violators.  The second district with the maximum violators being fined is Ri-Bhoi district and an amount of Rs 92.7 lakh was realized.
The other districts that benefited from the pelties on traffic violators include West Garo Hills with Rs 34.8 lakh, East Jaintia Hills Rs 30.9 lakh, South Garo Hills Rs 5.4 lakh, West Khasi Hills Rs 12.5 lakh, North Garo Hills Rs 3.7 lakh, South West Khasi Hills Rs 1.9 lakh and East Garo Hills Rs 1.2 lakh.
The violators include those involved in rash and drunken driving, driving without seat belts and talking over phones while maximum of the two wheelers who were fined included rash and over speeding, riding without helmet and other aspects that are related to possible causing of accidents.
Source said the government (police department) is on the job to further strengthen the monitoring mechanism to curb motor vehicle accidents in the state.
25 Highway Traffic Patrol vehicles have been requisitioned and deployed in all the districts.  12 are in East Khasi Hills, 2 in East Garo Hills, 3 in Ri-Bhoi district, two in West Garo Hills and 1 in East Jaintia Hills.
Besides, there are 52 motor bikes (flying squad) with VHF equipments that helped the police in checking the burgeoning traffic mece within the city limits and the highways.