SHILLONG, Feb 7: Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma on Monday said the state government is discussing the issue of railway project up to Byrnihat in Ri-Bhoi district with the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
He said efforts are on to resolve the long-pending issue.
Stating that achieving solution will not be easy, he said there are concerns regarding the project and as such, the society as well as the stakeholders must be taken into confidence.
“We are working and hope to find a way,” the CM said.
The statement comes three days after the KHADC reiterated it would not give its consent to the project.
During his visit to Shillong last year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had asserted the Centre would connect the capitals of all states in the Northeast, including Shillong, by railway by 2023-2024.
KHADC Chief Executive Member, Titosstarwell Chyne said the council welcomes any criticism of its decision.
“We seek the consent of local durbars and traditional heads prior to giving consent for anything. If they are not willing to give consent, how can we give consent?” Chyne argued.
He said the fate of the project depends on the decision of the traditional institutions such as Syiem, Rangbah Shnongs, Raid etc. The KHADC does not own land and the land here belongs to the traditional institutions, he added.
On if the KHADC will convene another meeting with the stakeholders, Chyne said the process may continue but the council cannot further delay its decision on the matter.
“We have to write to the government. We will highlight the views of the traditional institutions,” he said.
Earlier, he had stated that many fear the project, once implemented, would cause a major problem of influx of illegal immigrants.
Sikkim capital Gangtok will be connected by railway by next year and three of the remaining four state capitals in the region between 2024 and 2026, a railway official had said recently.