SHILLONG, OCT 15: Former Tourism Minister and West Shillong MLA Paul Lyngdoh on Thursday admitted that lack of communication from the government has fuelled opposition to the Shillong Ropeway project, while asserting that all environmental norms were followed.
Responding to the JAC’s stiff opposition, Lyngdoh said, “Due diligence has been done. What I saw from the press clipping today is that nobody from the government was willing to speak, that is the only problem. I was always talking, I keep talking and I am talking to you right now. What is lacking is communication.”
He said all clearances were secured in 2022 itself.
“All environmental clearances were sought and obtained in 2022, when I was a member of the District Council. Subsequent clearances from the MoEF were also obtained. The relevant dorbars have never objected at any stage, the local MLA has never objected at any point in time,” he said.
Questioning the timing of the protest, he added, “This could have been raised in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Why are these bodies raising it today in 2026? There is a timeline, a reasonable point of time after which you file whatever petition or complaints you have.”
When asked if vested interests were at play, Lyngdoh said, “I do not generally prejudge people. I don’t know if they have perused all the relevant documents or they have been guided properly.”
On whether the project violates environmental norms, he said, “Do you think somebody occupying the post of the President of India would agree to enter into a controversial project? The first citizen of the country coming to lay the foundation stone of a project which goes against basic norms of environmental preservation?”
By Our Reporter
