Shillong, Oct 25: Citizens’ groups Thma U Rangli-Juki (TUR) has written to the Meghalaya government demanding that the controversial Shillong Peak Ropeway project be scrapped due to the environmental risks that may come with it.
TUR penned a letter yesterday to BM Syiem, Chief Ropeways Inspector-cum-Member Secretary Licensing Authority, who had called for suggestions and comments from the public on the Rs 151 crore project.
Angela Rangad said that TUR has written to “express our vehement opposition” to the ropeway project and to scrap it.
“The execution of this project relies on a deeply flawed process, threatens our ecological survival and lacks the public mandate,” TUR senior figure Rangad said.
The organisation argued that there was a “fraudulent” consultation process, lack of public consent and “outright” rejection by the people.
While the government first confidently stated that it had appropriately consulted with the community before proceeding with the project, it later distanced itself and passed the buck onto the Meghalaya Institute of Governance (MIG) and the Dorbar Shnongs of Raid Laban. It turned out that barely two dozen people attended supposedly public consultations. The Joint Action Committee formed to oppose the ropeway has consistently claimed that there was never any invitation for the public to give its views before work on the project began.
The government’s claims of securing “community consent” are a misrepresentation of reality, TUR said. “Affected residents of Laban Pyllun and Lum Shyllong and indeed Shillong as a whole were neither adequately informed nor meaningfully consulted. There was no clear information surrounding the project let alone transparent public hearings to get the opinion of citizens regarding first and foremost the need of such a project. Bypassing genuine grassroot democratic participation to push commercial infrastructure constitutes a direct violation of community trust and democratic norms.”
TUR also referred to protest rallies and meetings held in opposition to the ropeway as proof that the public has “unequivocally rejected” the project.
On environmental concerns, Rangad stated that the site of the proposed ropeway sits squarely on the Lum Shyllong catchment area, which serves as a vital water source for the entire city of Shillong.
The government has proffered its findings from studies showing that springs will not be affected but the stark photos of hundreds of trees having been felled to make way for the ropeway has stung the public into action.
“Despite official presentations claiming otherwise, over 545 trees have already been felled, deeply scarring the forest ecosystem. Deforestation on this ridge directly threatens local springs and places the city at immediate risk of acute water scarcity and a severe ecological crisis. We cannot trade our long-term water security for short-term tourism infrastructure,” TUR said.
It also rubbished the government’s claims that the ropeway will reduce vehicle emissions and the traffic burden of tourist vehicles travelling up to Shillong Peak by road.
Rangad said that the road to Upper Shillong, where Shillong Peak can be accessed, has already been expanded into a four-lane highway at great expense. “Spending Rs 151 crore of public money to destroy a pristine watershed for an unnecessary, secondary transit option is fiscally irresponsible and ecologically devastating,” she added.
To start the ropeway to Shillong Peak from Lawsohtun means that tourist vehicles will have to proceed through the already congested Greater Laban area, the letter points out.
Other points raised by TUR concerning what it called a vanity project is potential slope destabilisation and the “false promise” of employment gains. “We demand that the government respect the voice of the public and immediately scrap the Shillong ropeway project,” Rangad reiterated.
