Photo Courtesy: nenow
Shillong: The Meghalaya government told the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council to pull the seals off the Shillong Peak Ropeway site immediately. Officials ordered the council to return seized project materials and abandon its hold on the Madan Laban location. Failure to comply brings legal consequences.
The trouble began October 27. KHADC Inspector Kordor Synrem led an enforcement team to the project's Lower Terminal Point between 10:30 am and noon. They kicked staff out, locked doors, and seized property under Section 7A of the United Khasi-Jaintia Hills District Regulation of 1954.
State officials slammed the move. They cite the Meghalaya Ropeway Act of 2022, which grants the Meghalaya Ropeway Development Authority full control as the project's nodal agency. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change approved the diversion of 2.3257 hectares of forest land on October 24, 2024. The project promoter holds valid clearance.
The government claims the work is purely preparatory. Contractor KEC-TCL (JV) filed for a trading licence on May 18, 2026, backed by a no-objection certificate from the Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun. The council has not acted on the request. State authorities argue these early stages do not constitute trading.
"The council would also be held responsible for any resulting consequences, including expenses and project delays," the Tourism Department stated in its letter. The state demands the council return all confiscated items and sign off on a promise to stop interfering. This mandate follows an FIR filed at Laban Police Station on October 27. The state is ready for a fight.
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