JNC asks cabinet ministers from Jaintia Hills to stop pushing for introductions of railways

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 22, 2023

The Jaintia National Council (JNC) on Sunday asked cabinet ministers, who are also legislators from Jaintia Hills region, to take up the issue relating to the lack of development of the region with the Cabinet instead of pushing for a railway line.

“(We) urge the cabinet ministers from Jaintia to express this issue in the cabinet…and also speak about the undevelopment of the East Jaintia Hills District be it the worst condition of the roads, the non-functional of government schools, bad condition of government hospitals, the long (pending) demand for a government college and so on instead of raising the issue of railway,” JNC president Sambormi Lyngdoh said in a statement.

This came 2 days after another leader from Jaintia Hills and cabinet minister Comingone Ymbon decided to welcome the government’s move to introduce railways in East Jaintia Hills District. 

I welcome railways, it will benefit the people of Jaintia Hills region: Ymbon

Highlighting the reasons for the council to oppose the railway line in the region, Lyngdoh said that the Jaiñtia Hills District Autonomous Council till date has failed to come with laws to prevent trading by outsiders in the region and to empower the traditional institution to check influx at the village level.

He said in view of this, if railway is allowed to come, there will be no doubt large number of outsiders, who will come to the region. Therefore, indigenous people have the right to protest against such projects.

“We strongly believe that the coming of these railway projects will definitely affect the rural areas, the forests, hills and even affect the water and lakes as the locals still depend on the forest paths. East Jaiñtia Hills District is one of the districts that had most of the factories and the coming of the railway will benefit only them and the question is what about our local traders and truckers,” Lyngdoh said.

Stating that railways will only benefit outsiders, the JNC president said, “Illegal settlers will arise, mixed marriage will take place specially the rurals as of now it is growing. And we strongly believe it creates big problems as we still hold on to our own culture and identity. What will happen to our next generation?”

Asserting that the district badly need development and not railways, Lyngdoh said, “The council would also like to question if the Government has crores on railway projects why not Government College? Two abandoned residential schools in a district what do you think about that?”

He further warned that the JNC is ready to take steps if the government do not stop dreaming about railways in East Jaintia Hills.