SHILLONG, OCT 15: The stand-off over the Shillong ropeway project continues with the Joint Action Committee (JAC) Against Shillong Ropeway Project declaring that its agitation will continue until the project at Lum Shyllong is withdrawn.
This comes after a meeting chaired by Tourism Commissioner & Secretary RM Kurbah on Thursday ended without any breakthrough.
Addressing the media after the meeting, JAC Secretary Dr Linda Marbaniang said, “We met the Tourism department but no conclusion was reached. The JAC has decided to move forward. We are firm — we will not stop the agitation. We want the ropeway project stopped immediately.”
Highlighting the water crisis in the city, she said, “We the public living in Shillong want water, not ropeway at Lum Shyllong. If the government wants to build a ropeway, take it elsewhere where it is needed, not where we are already in want. The need of the hour in Shillong is water.”
She accused the authorities of damaging the catchment, saying, “They have destroyed Lum Shyllong and felled trees. Meghalaya is facing 60 percent shortfall in rainfall. This is not something we need to educate people about, it is common sense, it is reality, it is a fact.”
“We cry out to the government — please listen to us. We in Laban Pyllun are suffering. Our children and our future generations will suffer. Where will we get water from, where will we get fresh air, where will we get the herbs from our forests, where will the animals go? We do not want the ropeway there,” she added.
The JAC has announced a peaceful rally on October 17 from Last Stop, Laban to the site at Sericulture Farm, and has urged citizens to join.
“We request everyone in Shillong to come and join us for a peaceful walk in honour of the Lord Almighty who has given us Lum Shyllong. We do not want any law and order problem. Let us come together and make this agitation successful,” Dr Marbaniang appealed.
On procedural lapses, she alleged, “There was no public hearing. None of us were aware when the project started. The Rangbah Shnong did not inform us. We only saw trees being cut. Work stopped for some time after a PIL, then started again, so we had to act.”
She further said, “You cut trees, you get no rain, no rain means no water — isn’t that common sense? How can anyone say it will not affect the catchment? Shillong has never been so hot. The 7 to 9 nights of rain we used to get have disappeared because of deforestation.”
When approached for comments on the meeting’s outcome, Tourism Commissioner & Secretary RM Kurbah refused to brief the media.
By Our Reporter
