Shillong, Nov 19: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Thursday asked the National People’s Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government to close the chapter of railway projects without the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system being implemented in the state.

“We demand the state government to speed up putting anti-influx mechanisms in place, as without these we will continue to protest against the move to implement railway projects in Meghalaya,” said KSU chief Lambokstarwell Marngar.

His statement comes a day after Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced the government’s intention to engage with the stakeholders for the introduction of goods train in the Khasi Hills as the Garo Hills already have an Indian railway line in Mendipathar.

Marngar maintained, “We will only be ready to discuss the railway projects be it goods train or passenger train when Meghalaya gets ILP.”

When asked, the KSU leader said the state government will know better as to why there is delay to implement the ILP as well as the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, 2016 (MRSSA).

“Instead of aggressively pursuing these issues in view of an unabated influx that threatens the state’s demography, the government is busy trying to bring railway heads to the state,” he said.

Marngar also rejected the claim of the government that goods train will benefit the state.

“If the government wants to develop the state, then I suggest the government speed up the setting up of medical colleges, implementation of the education policy…instead of introducing a goods train,” he stated.

It may be mentioned that the Centre has proposed two railway projects in the state– the 22-km Tetelia-Byrnihat tracks and the 108-km Byrnihat-Shillong line.

The Tetelia-Byrnihat project will be implemented at a cost of Rs 496 crore. However, these projects face roadblocks due to strong opposition from different quarters apprehending influx.