SHILLONG, MAR 23: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Thursday categorically denied issuing no-objection certificate (NOC) for the railway line from Tetelia to Byrnihat.
This came as a reaction to a reply tabled in the Assembly on Wednesday.
“The KHADC has not issued any NOC for implementing the railway project under its jurisdiction,” KHADC chief Titosstarwell Chyne told reporters.
Chyne however expressed surprise at a news report on the reply which claimed that KHADC had issued NOC for the railway project, which had gone viral in social media. “The railway project in the state has been initiated right from the year 1980-81 but the KHADC has never issued its consent nor grant NOC for the same,” he said.
The CEM said that prior to 2013 the state government was not required to obtain NOC from the KHADC. However, it was made mandatory for the state government to get the consent and obtain the NOC from ADC after the amendment was made to the Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act.
“After 2013, NOC from the KHADC was made mandatory to acquire land for implementation of any project. Hence, the acquisition of land for implementing the railway project may have taken place prior to amendment of the Act. However, till date no NOC was issued by the KHADC and also under the present leadership of the EC,” he said.
Chyne further informed that a total of 38 reminders were received from the state government from 2013, requesting the KHADC for its consent on the proposal.
The CEM said that the KHADC will soon seek clarification from the state government on the reply tabled in the Assembly.
The reply of the deputy chief minister in-charge transport Sniawbhalang Dhar to a starred question tabled in the Assembly on Wednesday had claimed that NOC from the KHADC have been acquired for the Tetelia-Byrnihat stretch.
“Yes, NOC from KHADC, Shillong have been acquired for the Tetelia-Byrnihat stretch,” Dhar said in the reply while adding that the Tetelia-Byrnihat stretch, compensation have been paid to the land owners.
Dhar however said as far as the Byrnihat-Lailad to Shillong stretch is concerned, NOC is still awaited.
Dhar also informed that the railway line from Byrnihat-Lailad to Shillong has been exempted for social Impact Assessment (SIA).
The minister however said that no actual work has been started in Ri Bhoi due to opposition by the NGOs.
According to him, the railway line from Dudhnoi to Mendipathar (18.87 km) is functional in the state.
By Our Reporter
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