SHILLONG, April 15: Rajya Sabha MP Wanwei Roy Kharlukhi on Tuesday stated that the prospect of introducing railways to the Khasi and Jaintia Hills is, for now, effectively a closed chapter, as the state government has already returned the allocated funds to the Centre.
Speaking to reporters, Kharlukhi expressed skepticism about the outcome of the government’s latest consultative effort through the formation of an All-Party Committee (APC).
“I don’t see any immediate impact — even if there’s unanimous support for railway connectivity now — since the funds have already been returned. I’m not sure how many years it will take for the Centre to re-sanction the project,” he said.
When asked about the Voice of the People Party (VPP) opting out of the APC, Kharlukhi underscored the need for a constructive opposition. “What the government needs is a constructive opposition, but I’m not sure whether the decision to stay out of the APC is constructive or destructive,” he added.
The VPP officially declined to join the APC on Monday. The committee was formed to deliberate on the issue of railway connectivity in Meghalaya.
In a letter to Chief Secretary Donald P Wahlang, VPP spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh acknowledged the government’s initiative but stressed that discussions on the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and other mechanisms to regulate influx should take priority.
“The VPP believes that before any discussion on introducing railways in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills can take place, the genuine concerns of the people regarding unchecked influx must be addressed first,” Myrboh stated.
