SHILLONG, Dec 26: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has made it clear that it will not give the no-objection certificate (NOC) for a railhead.
“Our position is very clear. We will not give NOC for the railhead,” KHADC’s Chief Executive Member Titosstarwell Chyne told The Shillong Times.
On whether the council will change its stand after the government sets up all entry-exit points, he said, “The check gate at Umling (in Ri Bhoi) has been made functional. We will have to see its functioning and effectiveness.” He insisted on the setting up of similar infrastructure in other parts of the state, right till the border areas.
“I think the state government has already decided to set up similar entry-exit points elsewhere. It should speed up the process,” Chyne insisted even as he laid thrust on the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) first.
The Ministry of Railways is planning to link all state capitals with the railway network by 2023.
The Northeast Frontier Railway had in May 2017 put on hold the work on a 22-km stretch from Tetelia in Assam to Byrnihat in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district following opposition from some pressure groups for fear over possible influx of immigrants.
Some political parties, such as the United Democratic Party, had said they would accept goods trains only up to Byrnihat. The state government feels it will be able to facilitate construction of the railway infrastructure if the Centre considers granting ILP to the state.