Shillong, Oct 19: In a bid to defuse escalating tensions and addres growing environmental concerns, the Meghalaya government has convened a crucial high-level briefing on the controversial ₹151-crore Shillong Peak Ropeway Project on October 22.
The move comes after talks between state officials and opposing groups collapsed last week, prompting local residents and activists to launch rallies and issue a strict 10-day ultimatum to scrap or relocate the project.
According to an official notification issued by the Tourism Department, the meeting will be co-chaired by the Chief Executive Officer of the Meghalaya Ropeway Development Authority (MRDA) and the Commissioner & Secretary for Tourism at the State Convention Centre in Shillong. The official presentation will be followed by a joint interactive question-and-answer session aimed at addressing stakeholders directly.
The administration has issued direct invitations to district police and civil authorities, forest officials, and traditional institutions—including the headmen of seven local Dorbars from Riat Laban. Significantly, members of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), which is spearheading the anti-ropeway movement, have also been asked to table their grievances.
Opposition to the ambitious project has mounted rapidly over the past weeks. Protesters, largely led by local residents and civil society groups under the JAC banner, allege that the proposed construction on the ecologically sensitive Lum Shyllong (Shillong Peak) threatens vital catchment areas that serve as the primary drinking water source for surrounding communities. Activists have also raised alarms over the proposed felling of over 500 trees and the absence of adequate public consultations before initiating groundwork.
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While the government maintains that all requisite forest and environmental clearances were secured from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change back in 2022, local agitation has continued to intensify. By bringing civil authorities, technical experts, traditional leaders, and protesters to the same table, the state government hopes to navigate the impasse and build consensus around the key tourism infrastructure project.
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