Shillong: Protesters continue their indefinite sit-in against the Shillong Ropeway Project on Lum Shyllong. The demonstration near the Kiang Nangbah statue opposite Civil Hospital entered its third day on Sunday. The Joint Action Committee (JAC) refuses to back down. They demand the government scrap or relocate the project entirely.
JAC members threatened to demand the resignation of Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh if the site remains unchanged. Executive member Anita Kharmawphlang stated, "The government must relocate the Shillong Ropeway Project from Lum Shyllong, or it will force us to demand that the Tourism Minister step down." Women between 60 and 80 years old are braving the cold to lead the charge.
The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) joined the protest on Sunday. General secretary Reuben Najiar and vice-president Pynkmenlang Sanmiet visited the site to express solidarity. KSU Laban Circle president Jason C. Laloo slammed the government for forcing mothers onto the streets. He warned that officials must answer if the elderly protesters suffer health issues during the winter nights.
Environmental fears drive the movement. Residents worry about water scarcity in Laban and surrounding areas. Clarissa Jordana Sohtun and the Hynniewtrep Jail Road Street Vendors Association joined the agitation on Saturday to protect the local green cover. Local resident and VPP leader Danny Langstieh also showed up to support the cause. Despite the mounting pressure, the government insists the project is safe. Officials claim the alignment sits 3.15 km away from critical water sources. They maintain that a land agreement secures the path forward for tourism growth. JAC leaders have rejected a court battle, opting to keep the fight on the streets.
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