Shillong, Apr 20: Amid stiff opposition, the state government today decided to scrap the Lumpongdeng project.
Government spokesperson and cabinet minister Wailadmiki Shylla conveyed this decision after a meeting with the Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong Ri-Bhoi (SRSRB) held on Monday.
Shylla said construction of the luxury hotel at the existing Orchid Resort will proceed as planned.
The decision also comes amid the intensive hunger strike by the Green Tech Foundation (GTF), which began on April 9.
Shylla stated that the government remains committed to engaging with local stakeholders throughout any project developments. “We thought that it is best at this point of time to that we will withdraw Lumpongdeng from this project,” he added.
The minister defended that the government does not intend to conceal any project details from the public but that all initiatives aim to enhance the welfare of the citizens.
Earlier, the Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong from Ri-Bhoi district met Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong and the confederation raised their concerns regarding construction at Lumpongdeng.
“But they are quite firm that they want the project to continue. They requested that since there are concerns about the project being implemented on the island so they requested government to withdraw Lumpongdeng as of now,” Shylla stated.
He reiterated that the original agreement does not speak of any construction work to be taken up in the island. “It will purely be experiential tourism,” Shylla said.
Shylla pointed out that since the traditional heads of Ri-Bhoi are the direct stakeholders of the area, therefore Lumpongdeng has been scrapped from the project.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson urged the GTF to call off the hunger strike since their core demand of scrapping Lumpongdeng from the project has been met.
Shylla claimed that the government is not bowing down to the demands but listening to the aspirations of the people.
