Shillong, June 24: In a shocking statement Chief Executive Member (CEM) of KHADC, Titosstarwell Chyne, on Friday acknowledged that the district council was aware that toll gates along the national highway are illegal. But they have continued with the practice of having toll gates as it was ‘already’ there.

“We (district council) are aware that it is illegal to install any toll gate along the national highway but as the practice from previous years, these gates were always there. So now we don’t want any confusion so we have decided in principle we will not install any toll gates but we have prepared now a working plan how to go about it,” said Chyne.

He, however, maintained that Autonomous District Councils are a constitutional body and there are some provisions in the Sixth Schedule which allow the Councils to collect tax and levy.

However, the CEM said they are working out a plan and it will be made public in the days to come.

His statement comes a day after the state government directed the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) – KHADC and JHADC – to remove the gates installed along the National and State Highway as they are illegal.

At the same time, Chyne also stated that doing away with the toll gates along the National Highway will have an impact on the revenue of the KHADC.