Shillong, November, 11: The Tourism Department has reiterated its willingness to hold discussions with the Joint Action Committee (JAC) Against the Shillong Peak Ropeway Project, inviting the Committee to choose between a formal stakeholders’ meeting, a departmental meeting or an informal interaction with senior officers.
In a statement, Joint Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Tourism Department on Wednesday, said it respected concerns raised by mothers, citizens and organisations over U Lum Shyllong and Shillong’s water security, adding that all questions raised so far had been examined and answered on record.
The Department said it had engaged with stakeholders on several occasions since August. These included a joint site inspection on August 8 by the Tourism, Public Health Engineering and Forest Departments, along with the Shillong Municipal Board and Raid Laban Dorbar Pyllun, to examine concerns over water sources.
A meeting with the JAC was held on October 15 under the chairmanship of the Commissioner and Secretary, Tourism, during which the project’s environmental specialist made a presentation. This was followed by a stakeholders’ meeting on October 22 involving the Dorbar Pyllun, headmen of seven localities, the JAC, PHED, Shillong Municipal Board, technical agencies and the press.
A public consultation was also held at the State Convention Centre on November 4, chaired by the Chief Executive Officer of the Meghalaya Ropeway Development Authority (MRDA), with citizens, community representatives and organisations attending. The ropeway system designers participated online. The JAC was invited to the consultation.
The Director of Tourism renewed the invitation to the Committee on November 5 for further discussions.
Responding to concerns over water sources, the Department said maps presented at stakeholder meetings showed that springs were located away from the ropeway alignment, with some situated 500 metres to one kilometre away. It maintained that the towers would stand on a ridge without water sources beneath them, while the Mawphlang dam catchment lies on a separate ridge.
On environmental concerns, the Department said the alignment had been redesigned to allow cables and cabins to pass above the forest canopy, reducing tree cutting. It added that an Environment and Social Impact Assessment had been conducted and reviewed by independent experts, while a camera trap study was undertaken in consultation with the Forest Department. A management plan would be implemented before, during and after construction.
The Department also said the public consultation in 2022 was conducted by the Meghalaya Institute of Governance under the project’s Environment and Social Management Plan, with letters sent to the headmen of all seven localities requesting them to mobilise residents.
Regarding land and safety, it stated that the lower terminal at Madan Laban would be built on land formerly used as a Forest Department nursery, while the upper terminal below Shillong View Point would be constructed on land handed over by Raid Laban Dorbar Pyllun.
The ropeway, according to the Department, has been designed in accordance with European safety standards, with its safety design reviewed by an IIT. It will carry passengers and not goods.
The Department further stated that approvals and no-objection certificates had been obtained from the Indian Air Force, Indian Army and Airports Authority of India. It added that ropeway projects of this nature are exempt from environmental clearance under the applicable notification of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The 913-metre Shillong Peak Ropeway, being implemented by the MRDA with funding from the New Development Bank and PM-DevINE, will connect Madan Laban with Shillong Peak.
The Department said the project would improve access to Shillong Peak and generate livelihood opportunities for local youth, homestays and small businesses.
It reiterated that all assessments would be placed before the public and further views taken into account during implementation. Citizens and organisations seeking clarification or discussions have been invited to approach the Directorate of Tourism, Shillong.
