SHILLONG: Environmental concerns over the Shillong Ropeway Project escalated on Monday as the Joint Action Committee (JAC) Against the Shillong Ropeway Project and for the Protection of the Lum Shyllong Catchment petitioned the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) to intervene and halt ongoing construction.
In a representation to KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Winston Tony Lyngdoh, the committee urged the Council to withhold the Trading Licence for project executor Riat Laban Construction Ltd JV and order an immediate cessation of all work at the site.
Representing residents of eight Dorbar Shnongs in Laban and the subjects of Hima Mylliem, the JAC raised alarms about extensive environmental degradation in the ecologically sensitive Lum Shyllong catchment area.
The committee alleged that large-scale tree felling is continuing, posing a severe threat to local villages and the vital catchment that serves as Shillong’s primary water source. Frustrated by previous petitions that went unanswered, the JAC demanded an urgent site inspection by Council authorities and a comprehensive audit of the trees cut so far.
Beyond environmental risks, the JAC highlighted regulatory lapses, asserting that Riat Laban Construction Ltd JV is operating illegally without a mandatory Trading Licence from the KHADC or a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Hima Mylliem.
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The committee called for a public hearing involving representatives from seven key Dorbar Shnongs to resolve the ownership status of the land leased to the State Tourism Department and to examine all related land documents.
The JAC also rebuked the State Tourism Department for a recent press release claiming that a public hearing for the Shillong Peak Ropeway Project had taken place on September 27, 2022, with the Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun. The committee refuted this, stating that the public and traditional institutions were kept in the dark, with no prior notice or involvement. They demanded full accountability and an official clarification.
Following the petition, JAC President Deborah Marbaniang informed reporters that CEM Winston Tony Lyngdoh has instructed enforcement personnel to inspect the affected area and submit a comprehensive report before further action.
Marbaniang clarified the community is not opposed to economic development, but insists that projects must not come at the cost of ecological heritage.
She affirmed that preserving Lum Shyllong is a non-negotiable priority for future generations and that the community remains determined to stop the project at this location, even if extended public agitation is required.
(4FrontMedia news)
