Shillong: Thma U Rangli Juki is pushing to kill the Rs 151-crore Shillong Peak Ropeway Project. The group demanded a total withdrawal of the plan in an October 25 letter to B.M. Syiem, the Chief Ropeways Inspector. They claim the state ignored local residents in Laban Pyllun and Lum Shyllong. No transparent public hearings took place. The group issued a 10-day ultimatum to stop the scheme.
Angela Rangad of TUR says the government has failed to include the community. She noted, "local residents had neither been adequately informed nor meaningfully consulted." The project sits directly on the Lum Shyllong catchment area. This is a vital water source for the city. Crews already cut down 545 trees. Further work threatens local springs and risks worsening the current water scarcity.
The project faces heavy scrutiny over its necessity. A four-lane highway already connects Upper Shillong to the peak. Critics argue the high cost creates a massive financial burden. Construction requires large towers in Seismic Zone V. This poses risks of landslides and slope instability. Traffic will clog the narrow streets of Laban Pyllun. TUR wants the New Development Bank to pull its support, alleging the bank received false claims regarding public approval.
Opposition is growing. Vivanstone G. Kharngapkynta, the UDP candidate for the Shillong parliamentary bypoll, joined the pushback. He argued that officials must listen to the public. He believes a united voice can force the government to pivot.
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