HYC demands ILP before railway head

By Our Reporter  

SHILLONG, JAN 30: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) on Monday demanded that KHADC should not issue NOC for the proposed railway project to Ri Bhoi district until and unless anti-influx mechanisms like the Inner Line Permit (ILP) is put in place.

A delegation of the HYC central body and North Khasi Hills unit which met the KHADC chief PN Syiem argued that they are not ready to compromise the interest of the indigenous community with development.

“We have demanded the KHADC to refrain from issuing No Objection Certificate for the proposed construction of the railway project under its jurisdiction,” HYC general secretary Robertjune Kharjahrin told reporters after the meeting.

Terming its demand as a pressurizing tactic, he said that the state government cannot proceed ahead with the land acquisition without the NOC of the KHADC and the latter cannot issue the same without taking the consent of stakeholders.

Maintaining that the organization is not anti-development, Kharjahrin however said the reason for the opposition is because that the state is yet to have fool proof laws to regulate the inflow of outsiders into its territory.

He said that the HYC is not at all convinced that the setting up of the entry/exit points, which is part of the state government’s comprehensive mechanism, is enough to help in controlling influx and illegal immigration into the state.

The leader said that is why the state government has to ensure that strong and effective laws like the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, work permit and residential permit are in place before going ahead with the land acquisition process.

“We need to put pre-conditions to outsiders before they enter our state and that can be done through the ILP,” he said adding “We insist that they (outsiders) apply for ILP before buying train tickets.”

Stating because there is a conflict between identity and development, he said, “We want there should a balance on this as we cannot compromise our identity with development that will affect our demography, political and other rights.”

Further, the HYC also urged the land owners and traditional heads not to take any hasty decisions till the issue is resolved.

It also proposed to soon seek information through RTI on the proposed lands to be acquired and number of villages and Himas which will be affected by the project.

KHADC chief executive member PN Syiem assured the delegation that the district council would soon convened a consultation meeting with all stakeholders before taking a call on the matter.