Shillong, Feb. 6: The Independent candidates in Meghalaya are a worried lot as they have to wait for some time before they get their symbols for the March 3 elections.

Several Independent candidates said today that they would be given their symbols only two weeks before the elections. The delay in the allotment is likely to affect their poll prospects since they cannot even launch their campaign.

When contacted, the chief electoral officer, P. Naik, said today that the symbols would be allotted to the candidates on February 16 after the candidates’ nomination papers are scrutinised.

Power deal

The Synjuk ki Rangbah Shnong, an association of headmen, today asked the state government to initiate an independent inquiry into the power deal with private companies.

The association general secretary, H. Oflyn Dohling, said that they do not trust the committee constituted by the state cabinet to examine the deal. Dohling said that an independent body, and not the present committee headed by chief secretary Ranjan Chatterjee, should probe the irregularities in the deal.

He said the state government should abort the allotment of power projects to private companies at the earliest in the interest of the state and its people.

Toll gates: Police today removed at least 11 illegal checkgates put up along the highways in the East Khasi Hills district by various departments of the state government and other bodies following a directive of the East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner B. Dhar.

Concerned over the unabated collection of money at various checkpoints, Dhar had yesterday asked the police to arrest those who collect money at the toll gates.

Dhar said today that police would continue the raids till all illegal checkgates operating in the districts were removed. He said collection of money on highways was illegal as no permission was obtained from the Union ministry of road transport and highways and the PWD.

Earlier, there were several instances of truck drivers torching the checkgates, , compelling the authorities to take necessary steps. Trucks and other vehicles carrying goods that pass through various districts of the state have to pay exorbitant rates at several checkpoints set up by different departments of the state government, boards, undertakings, district councils and syiems (kings).