SHILLONG, July 20: The Meghalaya government has communicated to the Centre that it will not push for railway projects if the communities have concerns about them.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday told reporters that he has told the railway minister that it would not be wise to bulldoze the projects without allaying the fears of the local people.
The railway projects are being opposed in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills owing to the perception that the trains would lead to a large-scale influx of outsiders into the state.
Sangma has also conveyed to the Centre that the state is open to the idea of shifting the projects for the Khasi and Jaintia Hills to areas where people are willing to accept them.
Asked about the demand to study the impact of influx on the state, the Chief Minister said the government can discuss it.
The Byrnihat-Shillong railway line project has been a non-starter while the other to connect East Jaintia Hills is still in the planning stage.
Meanwhile, the Jaintia Student’s Union has slammed a statement by Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar who had claimed that some people from Jaintia Hills have requested for railway connectivity in the region.
JSU claimed that only a small section of people, mainly businessmen of Jaintia Hills, want railway connectivity in the region.
The group made it clear that there was no point in establishing a railway connection as long as ILP was not granted to Meghalaya.
“Without proper safeguards through ILP, an influx of people due to railway connectivity might have negative social and economic impacts on the indigenous population in the Jaintia Hills,” it said.
JSU also argued that the cost of goods in Assam, where railways play a role in transportation, is more expensive compared to Meghalaya.
“One must know that even the cost of cement is higher in the production state of Meghalaya than in Assam; so the argument that railways will ease transportation of cement to other states is meant to benefit businessmen and not the people,” it said.
“It is important to consider the perspectives of different stakeholders and engage in open dialogue to find a balanced solution that addresses the concerns of the local communities and ensures sustainable development in the region,” JSU said.