RDA urges govt to examine introduction of goods trains in the state
The Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) has requested the state government to examine the feasibility of introducing goods trains to Khasi Hills region.
A delegation of the RDA comprises of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), which is supporting the NPP-led MDA government, has also sought the intervention of the chief minister Conrad K Sangma to ensure Khasi and Garo languages are included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.
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After the meeting, UDP chief adviser and former deputy chief minister, Bindo M Lanong told reporters that the delegation has expressed the need for the government to examine the proposal for introduction of the goods train in the state.
“We (have urged the government) to examine properly on the feasibility of bringing goods train or cargo train upto somewhere near Khanapara or Byrnihat,” Lanong said.
He said this is in order that lifting of essential food items will not be a problem for the government and those who deal with the supply of essential commodities to go all the way to Guwahati and facing a lot of difficulties including extra payment which in turn leads to price rise.
Asked, Lanong said that the chief minister has assured the delegation to examine the matter. “However for passenger trains, that has to be examined properly so there is no commitment on that as of now. We have also mentioned this to the CM that we would like to go slow on this regard,” he added.
It may be mentioned here that NGOs in the state have been opposing the move of the government on the introduction of railway lines citing due to absence of effective laws to check influx.
Meanwhile, the delegation also urged the state government to pursue with the Centre for the inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.
According to Lanong, the two languages have been recognised by the government of Meghalaya as associate official languages of the state in 2005.
“Now what is important for the government is to take up with the central government to see these two languages are included in the eighth schedule to the Constitution of India,” he said.
The former deputy CM said the last was in 2003 when four languages including Bodo were included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India but it is very unfortunate that Khasi and Garo languages are yet to be included.
Lanong further informed that the chief minister has assured that he will take up very strongly from his level and from the level of the government as these two languages deserve to be included in Eighth Schedule.
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