Ropeway 3.15 km from sacred Lei Shyllong ** No water sources in ropeway alignment
Shillong, Nov 5: Back in charge of Tourism department at a crucial time, Paul Lyngdoh has come out in strong defence of the Shillong Peak Ropeway Project, saying the records, and not claims, support the government stand.
“Claims can always be made, but we have all the records with us,” he said after taking charge as Tourism Minister on Thursday.
Taking on the allegation of adverse impact on water bodies, Lyngdoh showed a PHE map, saying the alignment from Terminal 1 has no stretch near any water source or stream.
He said the disturbance near water bodies, he said, is due to houses built by people, not the ropeway.
On the allegation of “entering into the sacred peak of Lei Shyllong”, he said, “We have clearly shown you that a distance of 3.15 km separates the project site from the Shillong Peak.”
Lyngdoh said the ropeway was born out of decades-old complaints at the Shillong viewpoint – ID checks, restricted entry, closed gates. The project offers a three-minute ride from Terminal 1 to the viewpoint for all visitors.
Citing “complete paper works”, he said the Dorbar cleared the project in 2022; 30-year land lease secured from Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun of seven dorbar shnongs on January 16, 2023; NOCs received from AAI, Air Force and Army; clearances received from central ministries; and land transferred for compensatory plantation in September 2023.
Objections, he pointed out, surfaced only last year.
“This is a bilateral agreement. There is no cooling-off period. The day the MoU was signed, it was sealed, signed and sealed for good,” Lyngdoh said.
He said the government engaged repeatedly, including on Wednesday, but opponents refused to state their grounds.
“The only language was – we are against, we oppose,” he said.
Lyngdoh said the President of India laid foundation for the project after due diligence by Rashtrapati Bhavan, and even the defence forces, who could have flagged security concerns, cleared it.
He cited the Union Environment Ministry notification of April 27, 2022, which held ropeways to be environment-friendly and recommended their exclusion from the EIA Notification 2006.
He also flagged the role of Greentech, which first opposed the project and had earlier opposed temporary structures at Lumpongdeng, despite a permanent MeECL boathouse standing there since 2008 for 18 years without protest.
“This raises a big question mark on intent and motives,” he said.
On public consultation, Lyngdoh said dorbars had used PA systems to call residents, but attendance was poor because no private land was involved. Copies of notices issued by the Director, Meghalaya Institute of Governance, were shown to the media.
Asked if politics was behind the stir, Lyngdoh said, “I will not rule that out. We are just a year plus away from general elections.”
He warned of a larger fallout: “If we vitiate the environment where Government of India, other agencies or private parties feel that Meghalaya is not safe as an investment destination, then it will not impact just the results of the 2028 elections, it will impact Meghalaya in the next 40 years or even more.”
“Who would like to come and invest in a state where projects face opposition four years after signing of agreements?”
