SHILLONG: High drama unfolded outside the Secretariat on Thursday as police detained key leaders of the Green-Tech Foundation (GTF) who had launched an indefinite hunger strike against the proposed Lumpongdeng Island Resort and Spa project at Umiam Lake.
The situation escalated after protesters occupied the Secretariat entrance for over three hours, prompting authorities to intervene. A Magistrate, accompanied by a strong police contingent, directed the demonstrators to obtain prior permission from the Deputy Commissioner’s office to continue their agitation. However, the GTF leaders refused, asserting their right to peaceful protest.
With the standoff unresolved, police moved in and detained three senior leaders, shifting them from the protest site to clear access to the Secretariat.
Among those detained was GTF Chairman H. Bansiewdor Nonglang, who remained defiant even as he was taken into custody. Addressing supporters, Nonglang declared that the arrests would not deter the movement and vowed to continue his hunger strike from behind bars until the government scraps the project.
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The protest centres around the state government’s decision to allocate approximately 36 acres of land on Lumpongdeng Island, located within Umiam Lake, for development in partnership with Indian Hotels Company Limited. The project has drawn criticism from environmental groups, who argue that the ecologically sensitive island serves as a habitat for migratory birds and must be protected from large-scale commercial activity.
The GTF has alleged that the proposed development could lead to environmental degradation, including deforestation and disruption of the island’s natural ecosystem. The organisation has also raised concerns over transparency, with its Secretary-General Bah Ritre Lyngdoh claiming that RTI documents indicate the involvement of Umiam Hotels Private Limited, rather than a direct execution by the Tata Group, suggesting possible misrepresentation.
Further, the group has accused the Tourism Department of inconsistency, pointing to alleged contradictions between official statements and responses provided during the Assembly session.
Maintaining pressure on the government, GTF leaders warned that they would hold authorities accountable for any adverse health consequences faced by those continuing the hunger strike in custody. The agitation signals a deepening confrontation between environmental activists and the state government over the future of Lumpongdeng Island.
