Goods train to unload food grain in Mendipathar railway station on Apr 12

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 9, 2020

Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Thursday announced that goods train will ferry food grains from Guwahati –Assam to the first railway station in the state on April 12.

“It is a record for Meghalaya that food grain train will start from Guwahati and go for unloading in Mendipathar railway station on April 12,” Tynsong told reporters.

Stating that this is the beauty of having a railway track within the state, he said that the people of Garo Hills region are being blessed by having a railway line in Mendipathar under North Garo Hills District.  

“Right now what is happening is that our poor wholesalers have to go down to Guwahati for lifting of food grains whereas people of Garo Hills what they are doing now, they will go and lift from Mendipathar,” he said.

“I should say thank God at least one railway point has been created in Meghalaya in the name of Medipathar. I think this is an eye opener to all of us,” Tynsong added.

It may be mentioned here that the two railway projects which include the 21.5 km Tetelia-Byrnihat and 108 km Shillong-Byrnihat rail line have remained non-starters following the stiff opposition from the anti-influx groups.

Reiterating that the issue relating to essential commodities is one of the government’s top priorities, the deputy CM said the state government has gone to extent of tying up with the food corporation of India (FCI) to procuring of over 11,727.8 metric tonnes of rice to stabilize the open market.

He said of this, 10,000 MT of rice have just reached Guwahati godown and lifting by the wholesalers has also taken place.

“This is good news for the people in both rural and urban areas,” Tynsong said while reassuring the people of the state that essential commodities especially rice will be available just like normal times.

Tynsong further informed that the supply of PDS is smooth and there is no question of shortage in the state.

“As declared by the Centre, the additional allotment of 5kg of rice per beneficiary will also be effective for three months from April to June. Allotment for the month of April has reached and lifted and now we are waiting for the month of May and June,” he said.

Secretary in-charge Food Civil Supplies Pravin Bakshi said over 4.21 lakh households including 3.51 lakh PHH (priority households) and 70,198 AAY households will get the benefit of the PDS.

On the other hand, the deputy chief minister also informed that the department of Agriculture has also set up 1917 iTEAM to buy agricultural produces like vegetables from farmers in rural areas for distribution to grocery shops in Shillong and other parts of the state.

There are a total of 11 agriculture response vehicles (ARVs) in East Khasi Hills.