SHILLONG: The railway project in the State is facing more hurdles with headmen of villages complaining that there was no communication with them about the boundary pillars constructed for railway lines in their respective villages.
The Shillong Times spoke to the headmen from villages in East Khasi Hills — Umrynjah, Mawsiatkhnam, Madan Mawkhar, Umphrew and Nongkohlew — to solicit their stand on railways.
The headman of Umrynjah, Seibor Khongwir, said he was unaware of the development from the beginning. However, Khongwir admitted that he was approached by people who came to survey the land for railway.
“There were people who came to survey for railway. They showed us papers that they have received permission from the Deputy Commissioner (DC) to survey for railway,” the headman said.
“I looked at the papers and saw that it was a permission they received from the DC, so I did not say anything. I thought it was only a survey and talks on this matter will be pursued later,” he added.
After a few months, Khongwir came to know that boundary pillars were constructed in places which were surveyed last year.
“Till now, we have no idea about the installation of boundary pillars. The only information we received is the permission from the DC, which the people who came to survey the land showed us. Other than that we know nothing. We are upset that it is like this because we were unaware that railway lines will pass through our village,” he said and added that the project should have been “through proper channel to better understand and affirm the issue”.
When asked whether the neighbouring villages of Madan Mawkhar, Umphrew and Mawsiatkhnam arranged meetings, Khongwir said meetings were held after it was noticed that construction of the pillars was in progress.
Umrynjah has more than 110 households and people are mostly engaged in farming.
Elgen Langstieh, headman of Umphrew, which is 1 km from Umrynjah, also said he did not know about the boundary pillars.
Langstieh claimed that the pillars were constructed to indicate the railway lines from one end to the other before survey.
There are four boundary pillars at Umphrew around the village roads and some on private property, he said as he showed the boundary pillar along the village road that was demolished by KSU members.
“It was only much later that a contractor called me to show everything as seen in the survey including the boundary pillars embedded with chips. They came to take samples of the soil to be taken to the government,” he said.
According to the headman, the contractor came to the village seeking permission.
When asked whether he should have been informed about the survey, Langstieh said, “Other concerned departments would inform the village. In this case, we did not know that they had surveyed the land. This is wrong and amounts to using force.”
J. Majaw, the headman of Mawsiatkhnam, had a similar experience. While the implementing agency told him and villagers that it was there to survey the land but remained mum on constructing pillars on roads and forests.
Mawsiatkhnam has more than a thousand households where people are mostly engaged in agriculture.
Majaw said the villagers did not object to the survey. He was not aware of the number of pillars raised.
“There should have been discussions. Had they (officials of the implementing agency) approached us we could have asked them as to where it leads and which areas of the village would be affected,” said T. Nongshlong, headman of Madan Mawkhar where pillars were constructed even on agricultural land.
Nongshlong, who was informed before the survey in 2015, said construction of the pillars without information might create difficulty for the village.
According to Khongwir, there has to be an understanding between the State Government and traditional heads as to what are the advantages and disadvantages of the project.
“The question of accepting or not accepting railways depends on understanding the matter. We don’t know what is this and where will it lead to,” he said and added that the government should have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the project because the rural population wants to know.
Talking about the pros and cons of railways coming to the State, Langstieh said it will lead to a reduction in prices of commodities and supply will be better.
But Langstieh, as well as Majaw and Nongshlong, raised concerns over influx.
KSU president Lambokstar Marngar said the railway lines will pass through these villages till New Shillong. “We will oppose railways until a comprehensive mechanism is put in place,” he said.
Extending support to the KSU central body for demolishing the pillars installed allegedly by railway staff, Khongwir said, “I agree with what the KSU members did as we feel it has hurt our sentiments.”
KSU and the villages of Mawsiatkhnam, Nongkohlew, Umphrew, Umjathang, Umrynjah and Madan Mawkhar have unanimously opposed the construction of the boundary pillars with an intention to bring rail connectivity from Byrnihat till New Shillong Township.
