Shillong: The Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun (RLDP) will return Rs 3 crore to the state government if officials scrap the planned Shillong Peak ropeway project. The money sits in the organization's bank account following a three-year lease agreement with the Tourism Department for the viewpoint. Executive committee secretary Glanding Lyngdoh confirmed the financial status during a press briefing Wednesday.
The meeting at the Madan Laban office ended in a stalemate. No consensus emerged on whether to ask the government to relocate or cancel the build. Officers stood guard outside the venue to stop any potential violence. Tension is high. The Joint Action Committee Against Shillong Ropeway Project and for the Protection of the Lum Shyllong Catchment continues to demand the project be scrapped entirely.
Lyngdoh pushed for a letter to the government to preserve local peace. "If the government scraps the project and asks us to refund the money, we are ready to return it because the amount is in the Dorbar Pyllun’s bank account," Lyngdoh said. Three members supported his call, including Iostarson Sunn, the president of the Dorbar Pyllun and Rangbah Shnong of Madan Laban, alongside representatives from Lower Lumparing and Kynjat Phutbol.
Other committee members voted to keep the project. Four Rangbah Shnongs asked for more time to speak with their residents before making a final choice. Lyngdoh stated he cannot act alone without full committee backing. He also clarified that recent tree-felling happened on government land, while the lease agreement only covers the viewpoint itself.
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