Cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh today urged the pressure groups that are opposing the railways in Khasi-Jaiñtia Hills to visit Mendipathar in North Garo Hills to see how much of a success it has been.
Railways are back in the news after the Chief Minister said last week that the idea of introducing railways in East Jaiñtia Hills is being explored. Pressure groups immediately reiterated their opposition to the idea unless the Inner Line Permit (ILP) is implemented first.
Today, Lyngdoh stated that whoever opposes railways should go to Mendipathar and do a case study. “Find out whether or not this influx (of migrants, which NGOs fear) has happened? Whether or not there is a dilution of tribal communities there? I haven’t embarked on any study as such but I know that a lot of their (Garo Hills’) produce and products are now being transported far more efficiently and at a lower cost. So, the government will definitely not do anything that is anti-people.”
However, Lyngdoh stated that there are challenges in this part of the state due to topography.
“We don’t have enough low lying land, plateau land. We have high hills, we have inconvenient topography. Whether or not it is going to be achievable is something that needs to be seen. My point is that every issue has a minus and a positive. And every time the government thinks of something positive, then you have reactions from the public. Obviously no government will then go ahead and do anything. Because we are governing for the people’s benefit,” she said.
