From Cosmos Sangma
MENDIPATHAR: In the late ’80s the two stalwarts of Garo Hills – Purno Sangma and Salseng Marak – were in the firing line of the Garo NGOs opposing the proposed railway connection into this hill locked State where road transport was the only viable option for travel and movement of goods.
“Those opposing the railways into Garo Hills burnt my effigy and that of Salseng Marak because they were opposed to the idea of having Garo Hills into the railway map of the country,” recalled Purno Sangma while speaking to this scribe at Mendipathar at the launch of the first rail service in Garo Hills on Saturday evening.
“It was my dream to have the railways into Garo Hills. When I was elected to Parliament for the first time in 1977 this was my first demand for my people. I faced a lot of criticism then. Today I see no opposition. Only welcoming smiles,” said Sangma.
Recalling those days when he had pushed for the railways in Meghalaya, he said, “I was the Chief Minister and Salseng Marak was the Forest Minister when opposition was at its peak against the railways in the State.”
He spoke of the initial move to get the railways first to Byrnihat in Ri-Bhoi district and Mendipathar-Depa in the then East Garo Hills district. Due to opposition in the Khasi Hills region the project did not take off and attention was put into the Garo Hills railway line.
“Both Salseng and I encountered immense opposition from NGOs but we were steadfast in our decision to get the railways despite all odds. After all we were looking at the future of Garo Hills. I don’t think I was wrong,” said Sangma.
The veteran politician from Garo Hills has also said that he would pursue in Parliament the expansion of the railways into other parts of Garo Hills.
“There is a long pending proposal to expand the railways into Tikrikilla, Phulbari, Rajabala, Garobadha, Damalgre, and the border region passing through my home village of Chapahati, near Mahendraganj. I intend to pursue it in the next budget session of Parliament,” assured Sangma.
