Shillong, Nov 11: The Tourism Department has reiterated that its doors remain open to the Joint Action Committee against the Shillong Peak Ropeway project, and to every citizen and organisation, for dialogue on the project.
The department has invited the JAC to meet in whichever form it prefers: a formal meeting with all stakeholders, a meeting with the department alone or an informal meeting with senior officers.
The department said it respects the concern of those who have raised their voices for Lum Shyllong and for the water security of Shillong. It said this concern is shared by the department and it is for this reason that every question raised so far has been examined and answered on record.
The JAC has been adamantly opposed to the ropeway at its present site as it fears that water sources will be lost due to the construction work and felling of trees. However, the government has stuck to its line that there is no spring within 1km of the ropeway.
In its release today, the Tourism Department said that the number of trees felled is actually lower than it would have been because the ropeway was redesigned to run higher so that the cable and cabins pass above the forest canopy.
On wildlife and environment, an Environment and Social Impact Assessment was carried out and reviewed by independent experts. A camera trap study was conducted in consultation with the Forest Department and a management plan will be implemented before, during and after construction.
The department also listed all the permissions it had received to go ahead with the project and then added that no clearance was required from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change because ropeways are exempt from such a requirement.
