South Shillong MLA walks out of 26 local organisaitons’ meet
Shillong, Nov 11: Amid protests by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) against Shillong Ropeway project, a call has been made for constitution of an independent expert committee to examine the impact of the ropeway on water sources.
In a resolution taken on Wednesday, the South Shillong Advisory Committee on Wednesday decided to meet Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma along with members of Riat Laban Dorbar Shnong and request the government to constitute an expert committee comprising technical and environment experts from the best institutes of the country.
According to the committee, the resolution was adopted at a meeting with 26 organisations of South Shillong constituency, including Dorbar Shnong and local NGOs.
“The decision taken is to ensure that an independent agency is involved to examine whether the proposed project will hamper the water source,” said Sanbor Shullai, Cabinet Minister and advisor of the South Shillong Advisory Committee.
All 6 towers outside Umiew catchment
Defending the Shillong Ropeway project, the local MLA Sanbor Shullai said the ropeway is 3.15 km away from Lum Shyllong and all six towers sit outside the Umiew catchment area.
“The springs serving Oxford Hill, Zigzag Road, Rilbong, Kenches Trace, Lum Sohphoh, Lum Dorbar, Lower Lumparing and Mylliem lie off the alignment, outside the water source. The nearest spring is 1 km away,” he said.
He said the Dorbar Shnong had given its no-objection certificate on January 16, 2023, after considering all points raised by the government, and the land lease was signed at Lum Shyllong in public with a video presentation to residents.
He listed the clearances obtained: no-objection certificate from the Ministry of Defence on August 7, 2023, from the Airports Authority of India on April 24, 2023, and forest clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on October 24, 2024.
“The views mentioned have been given by the government. Members of the JAC and others can give suggestions so that accordingly we will fix a meeting with the Chief Minister after the views and suggestions,” he said.
Shullai said the meeting could not conclude on the proposal as it was disrupted.
Lamenting that the JAC has not accepted proposals given by the advisory committee, Shullai said, “They are not accepting my proposal as local MLA, so now the decision lies with the government.”
‘Outsiders’ brought to disrupt meet
The South Shillong legislator and cabinet minister Sanbor Shullai on Wednesday walked out of the meeting of South Shillong Advisory Committee, accusing the Joint Action Committee (JAC) members of disrupting the proceedings.
“I requested them to give me a decision on whether they accept the proposal to constitute an expert committee, but their mentality is to create trouble. One after another, they started shouting, and that is why I closed the meeting and came out,” he said.
Shullai also alleged that the JAC against Shillong Ropeway project brought in political activists from “outside” to disrupt the meeting.
The JAC had invited people from “outside” to the meeting meant for 26 local organisations of the constituency, he said.
He said women present there identified themselves as residents of Nongmensong, Malki, Lawsohtun and Polo, which are outside the constituency.
“So, it means these people… the intention is to create a problem, like they have done everywhere,” he said while terming it a “political game”.
Asked whether JAC members were politically affiliated, Shullai named two of them.
“Yes, because in the last election in 2023, Kong Venetia Mawlong (JAC executive member), contested from Congress,” he said.
“Then we have one. I don’t remember his name, but he is from Lawsohtun. His title is Rynjah. He contested the MDC election from KHNAM. There are also plenty of members of other political parties,” he said.
Shullai said the protest would not dent his electoral prospects and predicted a bigger victory next time.
“I won the last election by a margin of 13,000 votes. Next election, I will be winning by more than 20,000 votes,” he said.
Defending the project, he said the Raid Laban Dorbar Pyllun had earlier supported it because of the employment it would generate.
“They knew that the ropeway would generate plenty of local employment, technical and non-technical,” he said.
“Then there will be plenty of stalls where the locals can open various kinds of shops. It will also benefit the local taxis…”
