State asked to return Rs 200 cr railway land acquisition fund
NFR wrote to govt on Dec 17, 2024: Conrad informs House
Shillong, Mar 4: The Meghalaya government has to return the Rs 200 crore to the Centre that was given to the state for land acquisition for a railway project.
Replying to a question during the Budget Session 2025, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said no land was acquired owing to “strong resistance” to the railway project.
“We received a letter from the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) on December 17, 2024, asking us to return the fund since it was not utilised for 7-8 years,” Sangma said.
The chief minister assured the government would take all stakeholders on board before deciding on the railway project.
“I have also met the minister concerned on multiple occasions, and in the last meeting, I had hinted that we are not able to move ahead with the project due to strong resistance against laying of railway tracks,” he said, even as he stressed the economic benefits of the project.
VPP apprehension
VPP North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum has expressed apprehension that there could be a “secret” negotiation that led to the Centre sanctioning over Rs 200 crore to the state.
Sangma rejected the claim and reiterated his comment on the fund for land acquisition.
