Shillong: The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee is turning up the heat on the state government. On Friday, MPCC secretary Manuel Badwar demanded officials reveal environmental impact studies for the proposed Shillong Ropeway Project. He claims the government has kept vital data on water catchment areas, groundwater recharge, and overall city ecology hidden from the public.
Badwar stated his party does not oppose infrastructure development. However, he warned that the government must balance growth with environmental protection. He questioned if the current scale of tree felling is actually required for the build. He called the endeavor a vanity project, arguing that the state should focus on job creation rather than cosmetic image upgrades. He said, any major infrastructure project should be evaluated not only on financial grounds but also on its “public cost”, including its environmental and social consequences.
The Congress leader pointed out that planting saplings elsewhere will not fix the immediate loss of green cover in the city. He urged the government to review the contractor's work, alleging that excessive tree felling is already underway. Public anger is rising. Badwar insists the government must stop the silence and provide full transparency to resolve the ongoing protests.
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