SHILLONG: Former Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh has strongly defended the Shillong Ropeway project, urging critics to thoroughly examine the relevant documents before raising objections.
Lyngdoh stated that all necessary environmental clearances were sought and secured back in 2022 when he was a member of the District Council, well before he joined the Assembly.
He added that subsequent clearances from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) were also successfully obtained, noting that neither the local Dorbars nor the local MLA had ever raised any objections at any stage.
Questioning the sudden resistance to the initiative, Lyngdoh asked why these bodies are raising concerns now in 2026 when the project could have been addressed in 2023, 2024, or 2025.
While refraining from prejudging whether critics are driven by vested interests or simply misinformed, he emphasized that there is a reasonable timeline and procedure for filing petitions or complaints, which should have been followed at the appropriate stage rather than delayed.
Addressing concerns over the project’s legitimacy, Lyngdoh pointed out that the President of India, as the first citizen of the country, would never agree to associate her name or lay a foundation stone for a controversial project that violates basic norms of environmental preservation.
He also addressed discussions surrounding compensatory tree plantation, noting that due diligence has been rigorously followed.
Concluding his remarks, Lyngdoh pointed out a lack of communication from the government side, noting from press clippings that no government representatives were initially willing to speak up to address public queries, a communication gap he believes lies at the root of the controversy.
(4FrontMedia news)
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