Shillong, Oct 27: Days after the Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum (MTDF) suggested to the State government to have a ‘luxury rail network’ from Guwahati to Shillong to boost tourism as well as Deputy CM Sniawbhalang Dhar indicating that the government is yet to abandon the proposed implementation of the railway project in the Khasi – Jaintia Hills region, the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has reiterated its demand to put on hold the proposed railway projects till effective anti-influx mechanisms like the inner line permit (ILP) is implemented in the state.

“We urge the state government and the MDTF to stop dreaming about the high speed luxury rail network and instead put pressure on the government of India to immediately implement the ILP in Meghalaya and to find ways and means to bring all round development to the people and the state,” KSU general secretary Donald V Thabah said in a statement.

“We have made it ample clear to the state government to put on hold its proposal to implement the railway projects in the Khasi and Jaintia region till it is ready to come up with effective anti-influx mechanisms to check the unabated flow of influx into the state,” he said.

Thabah further stated, “The main reason why the KSU is against railways is not because it is against development but because of the fact that railway line will make it much easier for influx of outsiders to come to the state in absence of effective laws to deal with the issue.”

“In view of this, we have maintained that till such time such effective laws like the ILP, MRSSA, cut off year March 25, 1971 – are in place, we will ensure that railway line does not come through the Hynniewtrep land,” he added.

Further, the KSU leader also claimed that Meghalaya, a state without ILP, is underdeveloped compared to ILP states like Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland.

“The per capita income of ILP states is much higher compared to Meghalaya, a state without ILP. The per capital income of Mizoram is Rs 2,15,144 in 2022-2023, Arunachal Pradesh at Rs 1,99,992 and Nagaland at Rs 1,45,537. Whereas the per capita income of Meghalaya is only at Rs 1,23,896 in 2022-2023. This shows that ILP is not a law that will affect the growth and development of the state but it is to regulate and protect the indigenous population of the state,” he asserted.

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