SHILLONG:
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Urban Affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar on Wednesday said some people from Jaintia Hills have requested for railway connectivity.
“It is not the government, but it is a request from a section of people from Jaintia Hills. It seems that Ri Bhoi is not accepting so please bring it to Jaintia and that we are examining,” Dhar told reporters.
He said that the government will take everybody on board before taking a call on the matter.
“If some new things come it takes time for our people to understand but it doesn’t mean that they are opposing. Maybe after we make them aware they will agree,” he added.
Dhar also reminded that the state government had never gone against the wish of the people of the state and said, “Actually we want to bring (the railway line) as a government for the benefit of the people.”
On the NGOs opposing the move citing that railway is a medium to facilitate massive influx, the deputy chief minister, however, claimed that there are mechanisms to tackle influx in the state.
“We have attained 50 years of statehood, everything is in order,” he said while adding “Yes, obviously as we cannot depend only on the state, we need outsiders to come.”
He also cited an example that people from outside cannot just come and stay in Nongmensong or Laitumkhrah without the knowledge of their respective headmen and said, “All these things have been regulated for the last many years in the state.”
“What can I say if somebody says no ILP, no railways, the government will finally take a decision. Government never takes decisions against the public and that is how the government works,” he added.
JH bodies ‘to continue to oppose railway’
Two organisations in Jaintia Hills district have stated that their objection to the railway is based on the fact that the state lacks a mechanism to control immigration and a framework to protect tribal trade.
In a statement, the Jaiñtia Students’ Union (JSU) and Jaiñtia National Council (JNC) reacted to the statement made by MDA spokesperson Ampareen Lyngdoh on initiating railway projects in the state, stating they are not against development.
“We want to send a clear message to Dr Ampareen Lyngdoh and the state government that we will not need to study the railway project in Garo Hills, because we stand on the foundation that we will strongly oppose railways in East Jaintia Hills District,” the statement mentioned.
The organisations said that the opposition is meant to safeguard the posterity as there are no laws to protect the tribal community from illegal influx and protect trade.