Shillong, Aug 10:The Joint Action Committee Against Shillong Ropeway Project (JACSRP) is standing firmly against the project despite concerted government efforts to reassure stakeholders that it will not unduly damage the environment.
On Saturday a site inspection was held with representatives of the Tourist Department, Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun and implementing agency. The JAC, which is made up of local residents, questioned why it was not invited for the inspection.
The authorities had stated then that the alignment had been designed to stay clear of critical catchment zones and would not impact the water sources that supply parts of the city. But this did not impress the JAC.
“We stand strong because destroying the environment will affect the present as well as future generations,” Alvareen Marwein, one of the members opposing the project, stated.
On claims by authorities that the ropeway steers clear of critical catchment zones and will not impact the water sources that supply parts of the city, Marwein questioned whether the inspection was thorough enough.
The JAC also urged that the government should first look into the basic infrastructure the people of the state need, like healthcare and education, rather than cater to tourists.
“We will not allow the project to come up in such a place and the Joint Action Committee if take to the streets if we have to,” Marwein added.
Meanwhile, the JACSRP president, Deborah Marbaniang, stated that the stakeholders of the Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun are not aware of any public hearing being held on the Shillong Ropeway. She rejected the argument that the dorbar held a meeting of its own and that this was sufficient. According to Marbaniang, this demonstrated a lack of transparency and accountability.
Olivia Lyngdoh Mawlong, another JAC member, added that the recent snub of the traditional heads to not invite them for the inspection is a failure on their part.
“They failed as traditional heads when they invited government authorities but they did not pay heed to our voices,” Mawlong added.
She added that a handful of headmen cannot decide what the people of the area want. “We have to ask the public – do we need a ropeway and development and in doing so are we ready to lose the greenery of Lum Shyllong?”
