Shillong: A heated debate surrounds the proposed ropeway on U Lum Shillong. Local government officials and the Dorbar Shnong argue the project will boost tourism and state development. They face stiff resistance from the Joint Action Committee of residents from greater Laban and the Green Tech Foundation.
The ridge serves as a natural barrier for the city. It holds nine vital rivulets, locally known as Khyndai Umdih Khynai Um Tong, which supply water to the foothills. Critics argue the area holds deep spiritual weight for the Khasi people. It is the home of the deity U LEI SHYLLONG.
PD Nongrum, a local resident, questioned if the President of India received a full briefing before laying the project's foundation stone. He emphasized that leaders must weigh economic gains against the spiritual and ecological costs. A retired Chief Secretary of the State has now joined the growing list of protesters calling for the project to be scrapped.
Nongrum fears the project sets a dangerous precedent for future commercial development. The author wrote: "U LUM SHILLONG is not merely a destination to be developed. It is a HERITAGE to be protected." He raised concerns about how the government will regulate future expansion. A single project could trigger a chain reaction of development across the ridge. Once the landscape is altered, restoration may be impossible.
Critics worry that short-term political goals ignore the long-term survival of this natural asset. Residents demand a clear mechanism to manage the cumulative environmental impact of these investments. The future of the ridge remains in limbo as the opposition intensifies.
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