SHILLONG: Meghalaya Government is hopeful that it would be able to facilitate construction of railways infrastructure in the state if the centre considers granting the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state.
Talking to media persons here on Friday, Deputy Chief Minister, Preston Tynsong said that the point of the NGOs is how will the state government ensure that influx does not takes place once the railway station comes up,
Tynsong said, “The government is also concerned about influx, the flow of people from outside the state. One mechanism to deal with it is the MRSSA Act which was passed in 2016, and we made some amendments. Secondly, Meghalaya Legislative Assembly has adopted a resolution demanding the implementation of ILP in the region and if this is done we will be able to proceed ahead as far as construction of railways in Meghalaya as a whole”.
According to Tynsong, the State government is still under discussion with all the stakeholders on the matter
”I am sure that once the resolution that we passed is considered and the government of India considers granting us ILP, this issue will be dealt with,’ he added.
Furthermore, he informed that the State Government had two to three meetings with railway officials and they are ready to provide land for constructing entry and exit points in the state to check influx.
”Work is on at the Mendipathar railway station and the railways has given us a land to set up entry and exit points. Similar things will follow in Byrnihat once the issue of carrying everybody together is completed,” he added.
It may be recalled that the state had witnessed stiff opposition towards bringing railways to the state with the opposing Civil Society Groups and the Khasi Students Union making it clear that no railways in Meghalaya until some mechanism or a law is put in place to check influx.
The construction work of the Tetelia Byrnihat railway line has remained halted for many years due to opposition from local NGOs who fear that railways would facilitate large scale influx into Meghalaya.
Out of the 21 km project, only around two kilometer falls under the jurisdiction of Meghalaya.
Similarly, the plan to connect Shillong with Railways has not fructified as the KHADC has refused to issue NOC for the project.
