Seeking exemption at toll plaza, Karnal villagers hold protest
Demanding free entry at Bastara toll plaza on the national highway- 44, hundreds of residents of nearby villages of Karnal held a protest at Gharuanda.
The slogan-shouting protesters also took out a protest march in the Gharuanda market and forced the shopkeepers to shut their shops.
The protesters, accompanied by sarpanches and other elected representatives of panchayats, have formed a 31- member committee under the banner of Toll Sangarsh Committee and threatened to intensify the protest if the private toll-collecting company, Soma Isolux, does not scrap its decision ending exemption for the residents of 50 villages in the radius of 10km of toll plaza.
They also demanded withdrawal of an FIR registered against 60 people for allegedly vandalising the toll booths on June 26 after a clash between the toll staff and a truck driver.
Later, the protesters also met local MLA and Hafed chairman Harvinder Kalyan and sought his cooperation to continue the exemption being given to them for the past three years.
Kalyana assured his support to them and said the matter has already been taken up with Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari. He, however, appealed them to maintain peace and do not involve in any violence.
Notably, the toll plaza was shifted to Bastara from Butana in December 2014. In February 2015, the toll company had agreed to give special concession to the residents of more than 50 villages of Gharaunda block.
But the officials of the toll company had lately been alleging that beneficiaries provided duplicate identity cards to their relatives residing in other districts.
Earlier this month, the toll-collecting company had also installed a notice asking the residents of nearby villages to get a monthly pass of Rs 150 from the plaza as their identity cards were no more valid to get them a free access.