Shillong, October 30: The Meghalaya Tourism Department has written to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), demanding the immediate removal of locks and seals and withdrawal of the seizure carried out at the lower terminal site of the Shillong Peak Passenger Ropeway Project at Madan Laban on October 27, 2026.
Addressing a press briefing on Friday, Commissioner and Secretary of the Tourism Department, R. M. Kurbah, IAS, informed that the Department had issued a letter to the Secretary of the KHADC Executive Committee, seeking immediate action over the sealing of the project site. She stated that on October 27, 2026, an inspector of the Council carried out a seizure at the lower terminal site, closed down the camp and placed the entire site under lock and key.
The Tourism Department maintained that the Shillong Peak Ropeway Project is a public infrastructure project of the State Government and that the land where preparatory activities are being undertaken belongs to the Government. The Department, therefore, maintained that the action taken by KHADC on Government property was not justified.
In its letter dated October 30, 2026, issued by Joint Secretary C. S. Khongwir on behalf of the Government of Meghalaya and the Meghalaya Ropeway Development Authority, the Department stated that officers of the KHADC Enforcement Wing, led by Inspector Kordor Synrem, entered the Lower Terminal Point site between approximately 10:30 AM and 12 noon on October 27. The officers allegedly evicted project staff, placed locks and official cloth seals on the doors of the site office, prepared seizure lists and obtained undertakings of custody, known as Zima-namas, from the site managers of the executing agency, M/s KEC-TCL (JV). According to the letter, the seizure was carried out under Section 7A of the United Khasi-Jaintia Hills District (Trading by Non-Tribals) Regulation, 1954, on the grounds that Section 3 of the Regulation had been violated.
The Tourism Department has called upon KHADC to immediately remove the locks and seals placed on the Lower Terminal Point site and the site office at Madan Laban. It has also demanded withdrawal of the seizure carried out on October 27, including the seizure lists and Zima-namas obtained from the site managers, and the release of all articles seized. The Department further asked KHADC to confirm in writing that no further action would be taken under the Regulation against the State Government, the Meghalaya Ropeway Development Authority or the executing agency in connection with the project.
The Government warned that if these demands were not complied with immediately, it would be constrained to take appropriate steps available under the law through the competent authorities to remove the obstruction and secure the project site and works. The letter also stated that KHADC would be responsible for any consequences, including costs and delays to the project.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Department clarified that the land at the lower terminal site is Government-owned property and that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had granted Final Stage-II Approval for the non-forestry use of 2.3257 hectares of forest land in the Riat Laban Reserve Forest and Riat Laban Forest for the project on October 24, 2024. The Forest Department has also permitted the Tourism Department to use the land for the public utility project.
Kurbah further clarified that no construction work is presently being undertaken at the site, which is functioning only as a temporary logistics camp for preliminary and preparatory activities. According to the Department, the campsite was established under Section 30(2) of the Meghalaya Ropeway Act, 2022, while ground preparation activities, including land levelling, construction of an approach road and soil testing, were initiated in accordance with Section 32(2) of the MRDA Act, 2022. The Department also pointed out that since the project is funded by the New Development Bank (NDB), its Environmental and Social Management Plan provides for preparatory activities and logistical arrangements, including the establishment of temporary campsites.
Regarding the trading licence issue, the Tourism Department stated that M/s KEC-TCL (JV), the contractor appointed for the project, had already initiated the process of obtaining the required licence from KHADC. The work order for the project was issued on October 25, 2025, while a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun was obtained on May 4, 2026. Subsequently, the contractor submitted its application for a trading licence to KHADC on May 18, 2026. Following KHADC’s request, an NOC was sought from the Syiem of Mylliem on July 16, 2026. The contractor also submitted its reply to the Council’s show-cause notice dated August 27, 2026, on September 2, 2026. Another NOC was obtained from the Dorbar Myntri, 5 Kur 11 Kur of Riat Laban Mylliem, Hima Mylliem, on September 28, 2026. However, the Tourism Department informed that the NOC from the Syiem of Mylliem is still awaited, pending a resolution from the seven Riat Laban Dorbars, a copy of which was received on October 26, 2026.
The Department maintained that under Section 30(2) of the Meghalaya Ropeway Act, 2022, the promoter is permitted to undertake preparatory activities, including tendering and onboarding of contractors, before the commencement of construction. It further argued that such preparatory work does not constitute trade and, therefore, the requirement for a trading licence does not arise at this stage.
The Tourism Department also stated that the letter had been issued without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the State Government and the Meghalaya Ropeway Development Authority, including those relating to the First Information Report lodged at Laban Police Station on October 27, 2026. The Department said the communication was issued with the approval of the competent authority and the Law Department.
