Shillong, March 23: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has not issued any No Objection Certificate (NOC) for railway project in the state informed chief executive member (CEM) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Titostarwell Chyne on Thursday.
Replying to a news report which stated that minister in-charge of transport had informed inside the assembly that the state government has received NOC from the KHADC for the Tetelia-Byrnihat-Shillong railway project. However, the CEM informed that no NOC has been issued since 2013.
Speaking to media persons, Chyne said that he was surprise to see news clipping went viral in social media which stated that minister in-charge of transport had informed inside the assembly that the state government has received NOC from the KHADC for the Tetelia-Byrnihat-Shillong railway project.
Chyne said that the railway project in the state was initiated since 1980-1981and since 2013, the KHADC has never given any consent nor NOC for the state government to acquire land for the project.
“I was surprised to see the news item as appeared in local dailies where it had stated that the KHADC had issued NOC for construction of railway line from Tetelia-Byrnihat-Shillong and from the district council, I want to asured the people of the state that the KHADC has not given any consent or NOC for the railway project” said Chyne.
Chyne said that before the year 2013, the state government need not acquire NOC from the KHADC for land acquisition but after the amendment of the Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, the state government need to get NOC from the KHADC for any land acquisition in scheduled areas.
“After 2013, NOC from the KHADC is mandatory for the state government to acquire land for any projects hence the acquisition of the land for construction of railway may have occurred
prior to amendment of the act, however no NOC was given by the present EC” he added.
Chyne informed that since 2013, the KHADC had received about 38 reminder letter from the state government seeking the consent of the KHADC on the proposal for land acquisition railway projects.
“With regard to railway projects, the KHADC want to assures the general public that till date no consent or NOC has ever been issued from the district council hence in the days to come the council will seek a clarification from the state government” he added.
