Shillong, June 03: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said that he would suggest concerned authorities to engage in dialogue with the KSU and also invite them to see the railway line in North Garo Hills (Mendipathar), whether the railway line which has been operationalised has any impact because of influx.
The Chief Minister told this to reporters when asked if the State government would call the KSU for discussion on the railway issue, in view of the protest against the ongoing construction of the Tetelia-Byrnihat railway line in Ri Bhoi district.
The chief minister also recalled that there was a similar objection when the Dudhnoi-Mendipathar railway line was proposed to link between Assam and Garo Hills region.
“In Garo Hills also, there was a similar resistant. But the problem was accordingly overcome, and today, Garo Hills is connected with railway line upto Mendipathar,” the Chief Minister said.
Moreover, the Chief Minister said that the state government was committed to put in place measures before the commissioning of railway line to Khasi Hills region.
“This is the commitment we have given in sync with what we have promised,” Mukul said, adding that the commissioning of railway line would not happen immediately in Khasi Hills region.
Mukul also expressed surprise that KSU, one of the organisations that involved in the dialogue with the state government on the issue related to influx, has started questioning the commitment of the state government on the implementation of strong mechanisms to check influx.
“The setting up of entry/exit points is part of the comprehensive mechanism of the state government to deal with the issue of influx and illegal immigration. The proposed railway line (from Tetelia to Byrnihat) will not pass through entry/exit point. Therefore we have to go beyond entry/exit points and some more supplementary measures have to be put in place,” Mukul said.