Shillong, Apr 1: Green-Tech Foundation (GTF) has refuted the state government’s claims that the planned luxury resort on Umiam Lake will not harm the environment.
Last week GTF expressed grave fears over the 66-acre hospitality project at Umiam Lake, which has been entrusted to the Tata Group’s Indian Hotel Co Ltd (IHCL) by the Meghalaya government.
The state government has signed an agreement with IHCL, which operates brands such as Vivanta and Taj, for development of Lumpongdeng island (36 acres) on the Umiam Lake reservoir as well as redevelopment of the Orchid Lake Resort (30 acres) on the water’s edge.
The foundation has filed a petition with the Tourism Department, citing concerns over preserving the pristine environment and ecological fragility of the area. Yesterday, however, the Tourism Department’s Commissioner and Secretary, Vijay Kumar D, issued a statement countering GTF’s concerns. He assured that IHCL will “fully comply” with relevant laws and guidelines, conditions stipulated by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board and other statutory bodies and rigorously comply with design, safety, quality and sustainability standards.
He also said that no permanent structures will be constructed on Lumpongdeng.
GTF, however, that the department has completely misled the public and questioned Kumar’s suitability to run the department.
The foundation said today that a Right to Information (RTI) reply it had received from the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) states that the Umiam developers have received consent to establish (CTE) luxury villas, cafes and restaurants on the island and GTF argued that these must be permanent in nature.
The GTF also said that the Tourism Department has yet to respond to the foundation’s petition and time has lapsed for replying to the RTI seeking project details.
It also claimed that IHCL has been given freedom from being held accountable should anything go wrong with the project as a special purpose vehicle – Umiam Hotels Pvt Ltd – has been created to run the development, which will limit IHCL’s liability.
