From Our Correspondent
NONGPOH: Following opposition to Tetelia- Byrnihat rail project from several quarters, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has decided to visit the site for an on the spot assessment of the railway line alignment carried out in 2008.
The Chief Minister announced his decision during a meeting with the members of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) opposing the 21.50-KM project.
The JAC feels the project will lead to annihilation of Ronghona Village and portion of the Lum Nongrim village.
It may be mentioned here that The Shillong Times carried out a comprehensive report on the consequence if the railway alignment is implemented as per 2008 survey.
In all 34 houses in Ronghona village comprising of a population of 192 people will be displaced eventually meaning the complete wipe off of Ronghona Village while another 15 house of Lum Nongrim will also be displaced and the BSA’s football ground will also be damaged.
The Chief Secretary W M S Pariat recently said that the government would take up the matter with the Railway Board “as the alignment as per 2008 survey will have an adverse affect on the two villages”.
The JAC recently submitted a memorandum to Dr Sangma demanding a fresh survey. The Chief Minister during the meeting even directed the Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner to take up the matter with the Railway Board.
According to a member of the JAC, the committee has proposed an alternate alignment for the new BG line from Tetelia to Byrnihat, which will have little or no impact on the houses in Ronghona and Lum Nongrim and also spare the football ground of BSA.