MEGHALAYA’S RAILWAY CONUNDRUM
From CK Nayak
NEW DELHI, Feb 3: Shillong is likely to remain the only capital in India without a railway line as the state government has failed to convince or rather take steps to convince pressure groups, civil societies and political parties to come on board to welcome the railway projects.
The Ministry of Railways has now put the onus on the state government to convince the stakeholders within a time limit.
Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday stopped short of calling off the two railway projects—Tetelia-Byrnihat and Byrnihat-Shillong—for which around Rs 200 crore has been sanctioned.
Vaishnaw argued that convincing the stakeholders is the sole duty of the state government.
“As per our Constitution, both the Centre and the states have their own responsibility to carry out such projects of national importance with huge economic significance,” the minister said replying to a query at a press conference on the railways in the hill states.
He also said that he had conveyed the urgency of the matter to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma during a recent meeting.
Asked if the Centre has put any deadline, he said things have to be worked out within a time limit.
Recently, Sangma had stated that Meghalaya might soon lose Rs 200 crore received from the central government for the railway projects. Additionally, the projects could be cancelled, with the government shifting focus to other regional projects, he stated.
“I made it clear that we need to involve all stakeholders before proceeding with such a major decision,” he had said, adding that he highlighted the importance of community consensus.
The two projects facing resistance are the 22-km Tetelia-Byrnihat line and the 108-km Byrnihat-Shillong line. The Rs 496 crore Tetelia-Byrnihat railway project is pending since 2017 due to fears of the influx of outsiders.
Sangma said when he had sought more time, the minister did not give any timeframe but said he would be writing to him (Sangma) very soon and if needed, he would come and hold discussions with the stakeholders on the importance of railways.
Railway projects are a contentious issue in Meghalaya, particularly in the Khasi Hills region. Worried about the influx of people, the pressure groups want the government to put in place a mechanism like ILP first before the introduction of railway.
The state government is caught in a bind. On one hand, it is under pressure from the Centre to take steps to move the railway projects forward while on the other hand, the pressure groups and some political parties stand opposed to railway projects without the ILP or a similar safeguard.
Incidentally, the Ministry has sanctioned Rs 39.5 crore for Mendipathar railway station in North Garo Hills under the Railway Station Redevelopment Programme.