Shillong, November 4: The Meghalaya Government, through the East Khasi Hills district administration, on Wednesday broke open the lock placed by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on the office of the Shillong Peak Ropeway Project contractor, KEC International and Tantia Construction (KEC-TCL), at Madan Laban, even as the Tourism Department reiterated its commitment to environmental safeguards amid continuing opposition to the project. The unlocking operation was carried out under the supervision of magistrates in the presence of police personnel.
The KHADC had earlier sealed the contractor’s office at the Lower Terminal in Madan Laban and seized equipment, alleging that the company was undertaking construction activities without obtaining a trading licence under the United Khasi-Jaintia Hills District (Trading by Non-Tribals) Regulation, 1954. Following the sealing, the Tourism Department lodged an FIR at Laban Police Station against an official of the KHADC Enforcement Department, maintaining that the Lower Terminal falls under the jurisdiction of the State Government and that the preparatory works were being undertaken in accordance with the Meghalaya Ropeway Act, 2022.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Department held a public consultation on the Shillong Peak Ropeway Project at the State Convention Centre in Shillong on Wednesday to address concerns over the project’s potential impact on water sources, forest cover and the environment. The meeting was chaired by Chief Executive Officer of the Meghalaya Ropeway Development Authority (MRDA), C.V.D. Diengdoh, IAS, and attended by citizens, community representatives and members of various organisations, including the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) Laban Circle.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Diengdoh said the consultation was the second engagement organised by the government following an earlier meeting with the Joint Action Committee (JAC) and the Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun. He maintained that the proposed ropeway would not adversely affect water sources and that its impact on the catchment area would be negligible. Citing a report from the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, Diengdoh said the six towers connecting the lower and upper terminals would occupy only 0.2 per cent of the total catchment area. He further stated that spring water sources were located approximately 500 metres to one kilometre from the project alignment and would remain unaffected.
According to him, the ropeway alignment follows a ridge and has been designed to pass above the tree line to minimise tree felling and preserve the surrounding forest cover. Diengdoh also clarified that the project does not fall under Category A or B of the Government of India’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification and is therefore not required to undergo a statutory public hearing.
However, he said an Environment and Social Management Plan had been prepared and approved in accordance with the requirements of the New Development Bank (NDB), which is financing the project. A public consultation and social impact assessment were also conducted by the Meghalaya Institute of Governance.
The MRDA CEO said the ropeway would be constructed in accordance with European CEN standards, with technical expertise from POMA, a French company specialising in ropeway systems. He further informed that the project had obtained necessary clearances and No Objection Certificates from various agencies, including the Indian Air Force, Indian Army and Airports Authority of India, while RITES, a Government of India undertaking, was serving as the project management consultant. Diengdoh added that permission for tree felling had been obtained from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and that compensatory afforestation was being undertaken by the Forest Department in accordance with applicable regulations.
Highlighting the objectives of the project, he said the ropeway was intended to improve accessibility to the Shillong Viewpoint, one of Meghalaya’s major tourist attractions, while creating employment opportunities for local youth and supporting tourism-related livelihoods. The project, which will feature a monocable gondola system connecting Laban to Shillong Peak Viewpoint, is being funded by the New Development Bank and the PM-DevINE scheme under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.
Responding to the absence of the Joint Action Committee from Wednesday’s consultation, Diengdoh said the government remained open to dialogue with all stakeholders and was willing to address concerns raised by individuals and organisations. “We are here to engage with everyone and address the concerns raised. It is important that the public understands the project and the safeguards in place,” he said. During the consultation, several participants sought clarification on various aspects of the project and urged the government to consider the demands raised by the JAC and continue discussions with the committee to reach a mutual understanding.
The project continues to face opposition from the Joint Action Committee Against Shillong Ropeway Project and local residents, who have expressed concerns over the proposed felling of hundreds of trees and its possible impact on water sources and the surrounding environment.
Despite the opposition, Diengdoh reiterated that the government would ensure compliance with environmental safeguards during construction and operation, while maintaining that the project would strengthen Meghalaya’s tourism infrastructure and generate livelihood opportunities.
