Shillong, Oct 22: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) opposing the Shillong Peak ropeway project today walked out of a stakeholders’ meeting after a heated exchange with representatives of the Raid Laban Dorbar over whether residents had been informed about the public consultation for the project.
The meeting, co-chaired by Meghalaya Ropeway Development Authority CEO and Commissioner and Secretary to the Tourism Department Cyril V Diengdoh, was held here to address concerns surrounding the project.
The walkout took place during the question-and-answer session following a presentation by the authorities. Tensions escalated after the Raid Laban Dorbar Pyllun clarified that an announcement had been made about the public consultation, but not all residents had attended.
JAC secretary Linda Marbaniang accused the Dorbar of giving false information, triggering a heated exchange between members of the committee and the Dorbar representatives. The JAC members subsequently left the meeting.
Before walking out, the JAC urged the authorities to convene another meeting at a different venue and on a separate date, allowing stakeholders to jointly raise their concerns and suggestions.
The meeting continued after their departure, with a resident questioning whether any announcement had been made or a public hearing conducted. He also raised concerns about the environmental impact of tree felling at the site of the Forest Department nursery, pointing out that the land appeared to have dried up following the removal of trees.
Responding to the concerns, Diengdoh said the government had addressed questions regarding water sources, environmental clearances, the location of the ropeway terminals and the consultation process.
He maintained that the public consultation had been conducted by the Meghalaya Institute of Governance (MIG), one of the three nodal agencies of the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA), as part of the environmental and social management plan required for the externally-funded project.
According to Diengdoh, the consultation was carried out through the headmen of the seven shnong areas under the Raid Laban Dorbar and the relevant reports were available.
“The public consultation was not done by the Tourism Department. It was done by an independent agency, in this case MIG,” he said, adding that some residents may have attended while others may not have been aware of the process.
Diengdoh said the concerns raised during Thursday’s meeting would be examined, adding that any decision on further demands would be taken in accordance with the law.
He also said the authorities had presented details of the project’s clearances, including approvals from the Air Force, Airports Authority of India and the Army, along with the lease agreement with the Raid Laban Dorbar.
On concerns about the impact on water sources, Diengdoh said the presentation showed that the ropeway towers were located along the ridge and that no water sources were being affected. He added that the Umiew catchment, which supplies water to Greater Shillong through the Mawphlang dam, was located on a different ridge and would not be affected by the project.
He further clarified that the upper terminal would be located below the Shillong viewpoint on land handed over by the Raid Laban Dorbar to the government, while the lower terminal would come up on land previously used as a Forest Department nursery and subsequently transferred to the Tourism Department.
Diengdoh said the sacred Lum Shyllong site would not be affected, adding that the ropeway could help reduce tourist traffic, littering and pollution in the area.
Appealing to stakeholders to support the project, he said it had undergone years of planning and was intended to boost tourism and create employment opportunities for local youth and entrepreneurs.
However, the JAC has maintained its opposition to the project and has previously demanded that the government scrap it or relocate it to another site.
Asked about the committee’s demand for another consultation and its earlier ultimatum, Diengdoh said the government had attempted to address the concerns raised and was open to providing further clarification.
He acknowledged that the Rs 151 crore project had timelines and associated costs, but said the authorities would examine the issues raised during the meeting before deciding on the next course of action.
