Shillong, Nov 12: Amid opposition to the proposed Shillong Peak Ropeway project, South Shillong MLA Sanbor Shullai today submitted a proposal to the office of the Chief Minister for the constitution of an independent expert committee to examine allegations that the project could affect local water sources.
Shullai, accompanied by members of the 19th South Shillong Advisory Committee, submitted a memorandum to the CM’s office, proposing that experts from reputed institutions, including IITs and NITs, be entrusted with an independent technical assessment of the concerns raised by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) that is opposing the project for the harm it expects to be caused to water sources.
The move came a day after a meeting convened by Shullai at the State Convention Centre to discuss the project ended amid heated exchanges between the MLA and representatives of organisations opposing the ropeway.
Shullai said the memorandum reflected the views of those who had supported the proposal for an expert assessment during Wednesday’s meeting, which was attended by dorbar shnong representatives, stakeholders and the JAC.
“Those who supported the proposal for an expert committee have come to submit the proposal. Yesterday, we placed it before all the Dorbar Shnongs, stakeholders and the JAC, but instead of discussing the proposal, they created havoc in the meeting,” he said.
He added that the CM is expected to meet the committee next week to discuss the proposal.
Responding to allegations by the JAC that Wednesday’s meeting was abruptly brought to an end, Shullai disagreed.
“These are all false and baseless. Whatever allegations they have levelled against everybody attending the meeting are all false and baseless. It is all a fabricated statement,” he said.
Yesterday Shullai claimed that many at the meeting were from other neighbourhoods but maintained that those who accompanied him to submit the memorandum were genuine residents of South Shillong.
The memorandum calls for a detailed scientific study by an independent technical panel comprising experts from leading institutions to assess the JAC’s concerns over the possible impact of the ropeway on water sources.
It also cautions that further delays could escalate the project cost and place an additional burden on the public exchequer.
Meanwhile, two separate FIRs were filed in relation to Wednesday’s meeting. The South Shillong Advisory Committee filed a complaint with the Superintendent of Police of East Khasi Hills over the behaviour of individuals identified with the JAC and Green-Tech Foundation (GTF) towards Shullai, who is the committee chairperson. After the meeting was concluded by Shullai, “certain JAC members started shouting, creating an unruly situation and attempting to obstruct the passage of the MLA… Some members also became physically aggressive and attempted to intimidate the MLA.”
The complaint also alleged that the chairperson of the GTF (unnamed in the FIR, though he is H Bansiewdor Nonglang) “attempted to forcibly pull” Shullai, “resulting in a heated confrontation at the venue. The conduct of the persons involved created an atmosphere of intimidation and disturbed the peace and order at the meeting venue.”
On Wednesday night an FIR was submitted to Laban Police Station by Ladaphila Kharbuli accusing the JAC of defamation against her son and son-in-law.
Her son Pynhunlang Kharbuli was seen in a video confronting Nonglang after the latter tried to allegedly grab Shullai. “In this regard, my son and son-in-law (Anthony Marwein) were trying to shield the minister from members of the JAC as they were approaching towards him aggressively.”
Later, in comments to a media channel, JAC members described them as “gangsters”, Kharbuli said, “repeatedly defaming them without any substantial evidence for such claims.” Her son Pynhunlang was even mistakenly identified as Shullai’s personal security officer (PSO), which Kharbuli said was “derogatory against our family [and] our Kharbuli clan in general.”
