Shillong, Nov 05: The Department of Tourism, Government of Meghalaya, on Wednesday held a public consultation on the Shillong Peak Ropeway Project at the State Convention Centre, Shillong, to address concerns raised by various stakeholders and provide further clarity on the project.
The meeting, chaired by Chief Executive Officer of the Meghalaya Ropeway Development Authority (MRDA), C.V.D. Diengdoh, IAS, witnessed the participation of citizens, community representatives and members of different organisations, including the KSU Laban Circle.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Diengdoh said the consultation was the second such engagement following an earlier meeting with the Joint Action Committee (JAC) and the Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun, during which a detailed presentation on the project was made.
He said the meeting was intended to address concerns relating to water sources, environmental impact, tree felling and other issues, adding that the government remained committed to engaging with all stakeholders.
Diengdoh clarified that the ropeway project would not affect any water source and that its impact on the catchment area would be negligible. Citing a report from the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, he said the six towers connecting the lower and upper terminals would occupy only 0.2 per cent of the total catchment area.
He further stated that spring sources were located at a distance of 500 metres to one kilometre from the project alignment and would not be affected. The project, he said, was situated along the ridge and designed to pass above the tree line, with measures in place to minimise tree felling and preserve the surrounding forest cover.
According to Diengdoh, the project does not fall under Category A or B of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification of the Government of India and is therefore exempt from the requirement of a statutory public hearing. However, as the project is funded by the New Development Bank (NDB), an Environment and Social Management Plan was prepared and approved, while a public consultation and social impact assessment were conducted by the Meghalaya Institute of Governance.
He said the ropeway was being designed in accordance with European CEN standards, with technical expertise from POMA, a French multinational company experienced in constructing ropeway systems in environmentally sensitive areas.
The MRDA CEO also highlighted that the project had received necessary clearances and No Objection Certificates from various agencies, including the Indian Air Force, Indian Army and Airports Authority of India. RITES, a Government of India undertaking, is serving as the project management consultant.
He added that tree-cutting permission had been obtained from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, with compensatory afforestation undertaken by the Forest Department in accordance with applicable regulations.
Diengdoh said the project was conceived to improve access to the Shillong Viewpoint, one of the state’s most frequented tourist destinations, while enhancing the overall visitor experience through a monocable gondola system connecting Laban to the viewpoint.
He noted that the ropeway would not only improve connectivity but also emerge as a tourism attraction in its own right, generating employment opportunities for local youth and supporting livelihoods in the tourism sector.
The project is being funded by the New Development Bank and the PM-DevINE scheme under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. Diengdoh said the project would serve as a model for future ropeway initiatives in other parts of the state.
Responding to the absence of the Joint Action Committee from the meeting, he said the government remained open to dialogue and was willing to address concerns raised by any individual or organisation.
“We are here to engage with everyone and address the concerns raised. It is important that the public understands the project and the safeguards in place,” he said.
He added that the government had taken note of concerns relating to water, the environment and tree cover and would continue to ensure that all environmental safeguards were followed during construction and operation.
During the meeting, members of the public sought clarification on various aspects of the project and urged the government to consider the demands raised by the JAC and continue dialogue with the committee to arrive at a mutual understanding.
Diengdoh reiterated the government’s appeal to all stakeholders to engage constructively and support the project, stating that it was intended to promote tourism, improve accessibility and create livelihood opportunities for the people of Meghalaya.
