The Khasi Students Union (KSU) and Jaiñtia Students Movement (JSM) have written separately to the Deputy Commissioner of East Jaiñtia Hills to make their opposition to the idea of railways in the district clear.
Yesterday, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that funds sanctioned by the central government to introduce railways to East Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi could be diverted to East Jaiñtia Hills if the public there is open to the idea.
There has been years of opposition to the railways in Khasi Hills ostensibly due to the excessive migration that the trains will, it is feared, open the state up to. Truckers also stand to lose business if good trains begin transporting cargo.
There is currently only one functioning railway line in Meghalaya, which connects Mendipathar to Assam. Even the proposed line just inside the Meghalaya border, up to Byrnihat in Ri-Bhoi, has been stalled for years. The central government’s dream is to have every state capital connected by rail but bringing that connectivity to Shillong seems nearly hopeless.
In reaction to the CM, the Jaiñtia Students Union (JSU) immediately voiced its opposition to the idea of a railway line up to Khliehriat.
Today, the KSU and JSM also chimed in, both saying that the Inner Line Permit (ILP) must be implemented first in Meghalaya to check migration before the coming of the railways can be considered.
The JSM also said that existing infrastructure in East Jaiñtia Hills is not maintained properly, such as National Highway 6, so these should be better taken care of instead of pushing ahead with a new infrastructure project like the railways.
The Hynñiewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC), district president Perios Pale in a statement rooted for the ILP and suggested that instead of railways, the government should improve transportation by construction of a four-lane road from Ratacherra in East Jaiñtia Hills to Umiam in Ri Bhoi district.
Pale said all MLAs, MDCs, Dalois, Waheh Shnongs and NGOs including the people should stand against railways unless the ILP is implemented to keep a check on immigration.
