Tensions Flare Outside Meghalaya Secretariat Over Shillong Ropeway Project
While protesters demanded the cancellation of the proposed Shillong Ropeway Project, South Shillong MLA Sanbor Shullai proposed an independent expert committee to scientifically examine concerns over its impact on water sources.
SHILLONG ( Meghalaya)- Tensions flared outside the Meghalaya Secretariat on Thursday after members of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) Against the Shillong Ropeway Project clashed with police while attempting to stage a protest demanding the cancellation of the proposed ropeway project on Lum Shyllong.
The protesters, accompanied by members of the public, marched towards the Secretariat and sought permission to stage a sit-in demonstration. However, security was tightened around the Secretariat, with police personnel, including women officers, deployed to prevent protesters from entering the premises.
A heated exchange followed between protestors and women police personnel after protesters insisted on moving closer to the Secretariat. Some protesters allegedly attempted to push through police barricades, resulting in a brief physical confrontation with security personnel.
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A separate confrontation was also reported between GTF chairman H. Bansiewdor Nonglang and male police personnel.
During the demonstration, women protesters raised slogans against South Shillong MLA Sanbor Shullai and Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh, accusing the government of failing to adequately address concerns surrounding the proposed project.
The protesters later continued their sit-in at the main entrance of the Secretariat and along the opposite footpath.
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Protest and Counter-Proposal
The controversy surrounding the Shillong Ropeway Project unfolded on two fronts on Thursday.
While the JAC pressed for the complete cancellation of the project, South Shillong MLA Sanbor Shullai submitted a separate proposal to the office of Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, seeking an independent scientific assessment of the concerns raised by opponents.
Leading the 19th South Shillong Advisory Committee, Shullai submitted a memorandum urging the State Government to constitute an independent expert committee to examine the JAC’s claim that the proposed ropeway could adversely affect water sources.
According to Shullai, the proposal reflected the views of those who supported an expert investigation during a meeting held at the State Convention Hall on Wednesday.
He said the proposed committee should include experts from leading institutions, including IITs and NITs, to conduct a detailed and independent technical study of the environmental and water-related concerns surrounding the project.
The Chief Minister, who is currently on tour, is expected to meet representatives of the committee next week to discuss the proposal.
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Scientific Assessment at the Centre of the Debate
The latest developments highlight a growing divide over the proposed project.
The JAC and other opponents have demanded that the ropeway project be scrapped, while supporters are calling for a scientific examination before any final decision is taken.
The memorandum submitted by the advisory committee argues that continued delays could increase the project’s cost and place an additional burden on the public exchequer. It also states that cancelling the project without substantial scientific evidence could affect development plans in the 19-South Shillong constituency.
Shullai rejected allegations made by the JAC regarding the previous meeting and described the claims as false and baseless.
The dispute has therefore moved beyond a simple protest over the project, with the central question now focusing on whether an independent scientific assessment can address environmental concerns while allowing the government and stakeholders to take a decision based on technical evidence.
As the government prepares for further discussions, the proposed expert committee could become a key factor in determining the future of the Shillong Ropeway Project on Lum Shyllong.
