The Meghalaya Cabinet has approved a major one-time settlement scheme of 90 per cent waiver on penalties for non-renewal of fitness certificates. The Cabinet has additionally approved an 80 per cent waiver on penalties related to motor vehicle tax and passenger and goods tax under the one-time settlement scheme. The move is to provide relief to thousands of commercial vehicle owners across Meghalaya.

Addressing the media after the Cabinet meeting yesterday, the Chief Minister said the government had observed that many commercial vehicle owners failed to renew their motor vehicle taxes, passenger and goods taxes, and fitness certificates for several years, resulting in huge accumulated penalties. The Chief Minister said that while the actual renewal fees are nominal, penalties mounted to unreasonable levels over the years, placing heavy financial stress on transporters, most of whom are local vehicle owners dependent on the sector for their livelihoods. The settlement will help regularise dues without excessive financial burden while also ensuring better compliance in the future, said the Chief Minister.