CM asserts need for railways to strengthen the state economy
Shillong, Mar 4: Meghalaya will have to return ₹200 crore that the Centre sanctioned eight years ago to pay land compensation for implementation of railway projects in the state.
The land could not be acquired due to stiff resistance from NGOs and political parties, prompting the Centre to ask the state to surrender the funds meant for land compensation.
“No land has been acquired as there is very strong resistance against the railway project. We have received a letter from the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) on December 17, 2024 asking us to return the fund since it was not utilised for past 7-8 years,” chief minister Conrad Sangma said during the assembly session on Tuesday.
However, Sangma hinted that this should not be seen as a government failure, saying “Since it is a sensitive matter, government did not go ahead with the land acquisition. (Due to the delay) government of India has now asked to us refund the money.”
On the type of railway project – goods or passenger trains – facing hitting the roadblock, the chief minister said the government had taken up the matter with multiple forums and faced strong opposition to laying of any railway tracks.
“Therefore, it is not possible for us to move forward,” he said.
Meanwhile, he assured that the government would take into confidence all stakeholders before deciding to such important projects.
He informed that during his last meeting with the central authorities, he hinted about the government’s failure in land acquisition for laying railway tracks.
Asserting the importance of railways, he said, “As a state government, we strongly felt there is need for railways from economic perspective of transportation of goods as it is something which would ease the overall transportation of products from inside and outside the state…”
VPP North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum has expressed apprehension that there could be a “secret” negotiation that led to the Centre to sanction over Rs 200 crore to the state.
Reacting to this, the chief minister said there is no such secret negotiation as the money is totally for the purpose of land acquisition.
Earlier, deputy chief minister in-charge transport Sniawbhalang Dhar informed that Rs 200 crore was sanctioned on March 30, 2017.
“However, it could not be utilized due to opposition by local people and due to unavailability of land. And also we have not received any No-objection certificate from the district council,” he stated while citing reason for the project to remain standstill till date.
