Shillong: The Jaintia National Council (JNC) has scheduled a black flag rally on March 6 to voice its opposition to the proposed railway project in the Jaintia Hills.
JNC Central Executive Committee President Sambormi Lyngdoh criticised the state government for ignoring their long-pending memorandum opposing the railway project.
“This time, we will take to the streets to show that the Jaintia people are against the railway unless a robust mechanism is in place to tackle the influx of outsiders into our hills,” Lyngdoh stated.
The JNC has called on the people of Jaintia Hills to join the rally, describing it as a step “for the betterment” of the region.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma revealed that the Centre has requested the state to return funds allocated for the stalled Byrnihat-Shillong railway project.
Construction on the project has been on hold since 2016-17 due to opposition from various pressure groups.
The newly elected Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Shemborlang Rynjah, said his Executive Committee (EC) would first assess the current status of the Centre’s railway proposal.
“We will study the matter thoroughly before officially deciding our stand on this sensitive issue,” Rynjah explained.
He emphasised the importance of a strong framework to ensure the safety and security of the Khasi indigenous community before considering railway development.
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Similarly, the Federation of Khasi Jaintia Garo People (FKJGP) has strongly opposed a proposed 180-km rail line from Chaparmukh Junction in Assam to Jowai in Meghalaya.
The FKJGP insists that no railway project should proceed without a concrete mechanism to address concerns about an influx of outsiders.
The group has urged the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) not to issue a no-objection certificate (NOC) to the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) for the project, highlighting the risks it poses to the region’s cultural and demographic integrity.
