Meghalaya: Kyrmen Shylla Calls for Public Hearing on Proposed Railway Project

Correspondent

Shillong: United Democratic Party (UDP) legislator from Khliehriat, Kyrmen Shylla, has called for a public hearing on the proposed railway project in East Jaintia Hills, urging that the decision be left to the people. “We have seen any company—whenever they come and set up projects in any region—we used to have this public hearing. Why not for this? This is for the public, have a public hearing on railways and let the people decide,” Shylla said on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters, Shylla maintained that the party would collectively decide on the issue and emphasized the importance of public consensus. “Actually, when it comes to this, we will take a call from the party, whatever the party decide. Then we’ll go ahead with that. I cannot say on my own as of now because here it comes with all the political parties. So we will leave it to our president to take a call on this.”  He reiterated that the will of the people must guide the decision-making. “We will leave it to the will of the public—let the public decide. I have a feeling if the public really want it, it will happen, and if the public are against it, why would we do anything? We are here for the public. We shouldn’t go against public will,” he asserted.  When asked who stands to benefit if railways are introduced in East Jaintia Hills, Shylla responded, “Everyone will be benefitted—those who use railways. Those who don’t use it, for them it doesn’t affect either it comes or not. Those who use it will know the outcome.”  Expressing hope for a constructive dialogue, Shylla added, “I believe one day we will have one platform since the state government has now taken this initiative to give a chance to the public to decide. I myself want that. Let the public decide on a platform and then take that—what will be the benefits, what will be the outcome of the railway. If the public says no, that day itself we should put a full stop to it.”

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