HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Aug 18: The Meghalaya government remains committed to its railway project plans in East
Jaintia Hills district, according to the state’s deputy chief minister and head of the transport department,
Sniawbhalang Dhar. He emphasised that the government is engaging in discussions with all stakeholders
before moving forward.
Dhar acknowledged that garnering consensus from all parties involved is a time-consuming process,
stating, “First, we have to take all stakeholders on board. It takes time.” He clarified that the plans for
the railway project in East Jaintia Hills have not been abandoned, rather they are currently under
discussion.
Highlighting another significant development, Dhar revealed that the central government is evaluating
the potential implementation of an inner line permit (ILP) system in the state, a proposition put forward
by the Meghalaya government. “The Centre is examining ILP,” Dhar affirmed.
The state government has also sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention in the matter of
implementing the ILP system within the state. This move is part of Meghalaya’s ongoing efforts to
address the challenge of illegal immigration. Chief minister Conrad Sangma reiterated the state’s
determination to push the central government to address this pressing issue.
Sangma stressed that Meghalaya remains deeply concerned about the larger problem of illegal
immigration and is exploring various avenues, including the ILP and the MRSSA (Meghalaya Residents’
Safety and Security Act), to effectively tackle the issue.
