RailEnquiry

Gangtok : Railway matter deepens once again creating mental disturbances among the surrounding people living at the proposed area of Majhitar and Khanikhola stretch. Recall that proposed railway connectivity from Sevok to Rangpo in Sikkim has been receiving a tremendous resistance from the general public living in the state ever since the plan was outlayed by IRCON. The dispute of land embarked series of trouble for the land owners since last two years where the proposed railway connectivity passes through the private land in outlay. The awakened people of the proposed area constituted a body Railway Affected Khanikhola Majhitar Joint Action Committee (RAKMJAC) to press people’s grievances to the state and the Railway authority. According to the President Mr Kedar Pradhan of RAKMJAC the voices of the people suffering from the proposed railway project has been told to the state government repeatedly. Astonishing thing of the railway project is that then Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee in 2009 had laid foundation stone in Mining for the station, even there was no any plans to disturb the civilians and their private land of Khanikhola and Majhitar. After the foundation stone was laid then suddenly the route was diverted keeping the booming industrial area of Mining away from the proposed map of railway against their previous plan. Why was diversion done when the Railway Minister had laid foundation in Mining?, the question has raised a series of doubts and even some don’t hesitate to say it’s a foul play to suppress innocent people’s land keeping suitable land away from the railway course. Today, a meeting was called at Khanijhola which was attended by hundreds of land owners and public to discuss about the latest development carried in course of time. Unaware about the rampant survey done by the Railway team the land owners have striclty rejected the survey calling it ‘Invalid’ and ‘Non-Authentic’, land owners have expressed dismay that their survey related to railway must be diverted to forest area and not a single inch of private land be affected under railway map. Land owners have pressed that railway is a progressive development for the state’s growth but suppressing the people’s only landed property, agriculture land which is situated in good location will not be tolerated or given at any cost. Reiterating to the previous stand the land owners have demanded in case the railway is to be brought then same amount of land must be given in same area like Mining, Majhitar with same worth voices land owners strongly saying ‘Land for a Land’. Estimating that children have to survive earning their livelihood from land located in present suitable area or their future will be in trouble. Yet another major concern that was highlighted in the whole area of Majhiatr, Mining and Khanikhola, SMIT is a drinking water. The source of water which feeds the entire thousands of population living in the area will be affected. Promises as done in various places by acquiring a land for project then after making the people fool will not be accepted, drinking water supply must be resolved prior to railway works. The gathering also warned that survey must be stopped immediately in the area unless the grievances are all listened and executed thereof. Gathering also demanded that railway survey can be done at Forest area which falls under state ambit which people have nothing to say but inching within private land in the area will be strongly replied in action, gathering voiced. RAKMJAC from the discussion of the meeting of today would be submitting people’s grievance to the District Collector East highlighting the concern of the people in writing, is told.