By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 6: Newly-appointed Cabinet Minister Sosthenes Sohtun on Monday said he favours the introduction of only goods trains till Byrnihat.
Byrnihat falls under his Jirang constituency.
The work on the Tetelia-Byrnihat railway line has remained stalled for the last 7-8 years as groups and organisations stand opposed to the project for the fear of influx of outsiders although only 2 kilometres of it falls under Meghalaya. They want the government to first put in place a mechanism such as inner line permit.
“We should opt for only goods trains. However, this depends on the position of stakeholders – different groups,” Sohtun said.
Asked about railways in Mendipathar which is benefiting Garo Hills, he said if the railways can bring benefits, the government and the stakeholders should sit together and discuss the matter.
Earlier, newly-inducted Tourism Minister and Resubelpara MLA, Timothy D. Shira had asserted that the railway line in North Garo Hills has benefited Meghalaya beyong Mendipathar without triggering any influx of outsiders, as generally feared.
Shira had said that with the introduction of railways, essential commodities are now being sent to Shillong and other parts of Meghalaya from Mendipathar.
He said that the farmers of Garo Hills have got a direct access with the market in Guwahati, where many of them sell their goods.
He negated theories that the railway to Mendipathar led to large-scale influx. “People in North Garo Hills are conscious and they don’t sell their land to non-tribals whereas in the western part of the state, settlement of non-tribals has taken place as people do not know how to protect their land.
The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) had earlier expressed disappointment with the Meghalaya government, calling it out for not taking active steps to put Shillong on the country’s railway map.
Sources in the NFR had claimed that corruption was the primary motive behind the opposition to three railway projects in Khasi-Jaintia Hills. The sources further claimed that many politicians in Meghalaya operate trucks and they were against the railway projects to avoid any detrimental impact on their business.
While the Meghalaya government has time and again stressed the need to take people on board before coming to any decision on railways, no serious discussions on the issue have ever taken place with the pressure groups.
