Shillong, Oct 28: The row over the Shillong Peak ropeway deepened on Wednesday as the Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun failed to take a call on scrapping the land lease, even as the 10-day deadline set by the Joint Action Committee Against Shillong Ropeway Project expired.
The Executive Committee met at Madan Laban in the evening amid heavy police deployment. Members were split — a section pushed for withdrawal of the agreement with the Tourism Department for the Madan Laban to Shillong Viewpoint project, while others insisted it should go ahead. The meeting ended without a decision.
Earlier, leaders of the JAC met the Syiem of Hima Mylliem, Ainam Manik, at Mawkhar, demanding revocation of authorisation issued to headmen and cancellation of the project.
JAC president Deborah Marbaniang said Dorbar Pyllun leaders had earlier indicated the lease should be withdrawn immediately.
Dorbar secretary Glanding Lyngdoh said a letter seeking cancellation would be sent to the government if consensus was reached. He confirmed Rs 3 crore paid by the Tourism Department under the lease is lying in the Dorbar Pyllun account.
The Dorbar decided to let seven Dorbar Shnongs hold public meetings on November 14 to elicit public opinion. The move was rejected by JAC members waiting outside, who demanded outright cancellation, triggering a heated exchange between women JAC members and Dorbar leaders.
The JAC said it will meet to decide the next step of its agitation.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Dr Mukul Sangma said issues linked to sentiments should not be allowed to linger without engagement.
“Any concern of the people must be given due weightage and discussed upon and collectively find ways and means to resolve,” he said, adding Meghalaya has in the past shown it can come together to find solutions.
