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The United Democratic Party President Matbah Lyngdoh on Wednesday said all the stakeholders’ need to be taken into confidence before thinking about laying a railway track till the state capital.
As some news report suggests that the Officials of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) are likely to meet Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma soon to press for the revival of the Tetelia-Byrnihat railway project that has been in cold storage since 2016-17, the UDP Chief maintained that the party will discuss the matter with the Chief Minister.
“All the stakeholders should be taken into confidence that is the first and the foremost thing, if we really wanted to see that any kind of developmental activities which we really wanted to implement in the state or in any region or any parts of the state, the stakeholders should be made part and parcel of any decision making,” Lyngdoh told Meghalaya News 24.
Stating that there will be some hurdles, some issues of constraints here and there, the UDP chief stresses on the need to involve the stakeholders.
Asked about demand for ILP, he said “… that what I am saying these are all issues that will come up in the process if you want to lay down a railway track from Guwahati to Shillong, so all these issues will come up one after another. So the Government in its wisdom should think and see who should be the stakeholders as far as this project is concerned and take them into confidence if you feel that they are important to be the part and parcel of the project and make them aware, explain to them about the details and all about the project. “
He further informed that the party will take up issues concerning people and the state as they have not joined the Government for the sake of joining
“We wanted to meet the Chief Minister not only about job reservation and roster system but also there are issues concerning the state and the people, that’s why we are here and we have joined the Government with that motive in mind. Rails and ILP are also part of it, there other concern as well,” he added.