SHILLONG, Sep 16: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday said there is “huge pressure” on him from the Centre to introduce railway in the state but his government will not go ahead with the project without taking people on board. He made the statement replying to a query from Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem.
The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is working on the Tetelia-Byrnihat railway line. While the work has progressed extensively on the Assam side, it has remained stalled in Meghalaya for years due to opposition from the pressure groups. The railway line is supposed to be 21.50 km –19.25 km in Assam and 2.25 km in Meghalaya.
Sangma said he met Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and explained to him the complications in Meghalaya. He said the Union Minister assured that the Centre will go ahead with the project only when the Meghalaya government and the people are on board.
The CM recalled the state government had engaged itself with the pressure groups for the introduction of goods trains. “There is a form of agreement on goods trains but there is a lot opposition to passenger trains,” he said, adding he appealed to the then Railway minister to set up a check point at Mendipathar railway station to build up confidence among the people of the state.
“After the check point was constructed, the process could not move forward because of other issues like MRSSA, CAA and ILP which diverted the entire talks,” Sangma said.
Earlier, BJP MLA AL Hek also said the NFR general manager (GM) had approached him recently to find out why there is no progress in the project in Meghalaya. The CM said the GM wanted to conduct a survey but the locals had prevented it.
According to Sangma, several meetings have taken place on the matter with Union ministers and even the PMO wanted to know why the project work is not starting in the state.
The Nongpoh MLA agreed railway is a lifeline for the economy of the state and the country but insisted one has to keep in mind the sensitivity of the issue of indigenous people in the state.
Earlier, Transport Minister Dasakhiatbha Lamare stated that they will consider the stakeholders and ensure that everyone is on board before they proceed.
On compensation to the landowners for the Tetelia-Byrnihat railway line, Syiem sought a clarification if NOC was taken from the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council. Lamare said it was not required as the project dates back to several years when no NOC was required from the council.
Compensation has been paid (approximately Rs 17 crore) to the landowners only for the land acquisition under the Tetelia-Byrnihat sector.
The Transport minister also said there was a survey for Khasi and Jaintia regions but it was not carried forward due to the opposition.
Syiem asked when the stakeholders are opposed to railway projects, why the government did not consider bringing laws to check the influx of immigrants.
Sangma responded by stating that it is wrong to say the government has not done anything to curb influx. He said it passed the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act while the resolution for the Inner Line Permit was also passed.
