JAC Stands Firm Against Shillong Ropeway, Demands Fresh Public Hearing Over Lum Shyllong Concerns
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) Against the Shillong Ropeway Project and for the Protection of the Lum Shyllong Catchment has once again drawn a firm line against the controversial tourism project, rejecting claims of public consent and calling for an immediate pause until a genuine, inclusive hearing is conducted. As the Meghalaya government prepares to accelerate construction after the monsoon, the committee has accused authorities of pushing ahead with a project that risks the city’s most vital water catchment area without the real mandate of the people who depend on it.
On Monday, a JAC delegation told reporters that the government’s assertion of community support rests on a flawed foundation. The group specifically questioned a public consultation held on September 27, 2022, at Lumshatsngi Community Hall under the Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun. According to the committee, the meeting was dominated by project supporters, suffered from poor public outreach, and failed to capture the views of the wider population living in and around Lum Shyllong.
“A handful of Rangbah Shnong cannot decide what the people of this area and the people of Shillong as a whole want,” the JAC stated. It argued that the most basic question — whether Shillong needs a ropeway at all — has never been placed before residents in a democratic manner. “The question is whether we need the ropeway at all. The public must decide whether they are willing to accept this development at the cost of Lum Shyllong, its forests and its critical water catchment areas,” the committee said.
The JAC acknowledged that development often requires trade-offs but insisted that citizens, not a limited group of traditional heads or officials, must weigh those costs. “There is a saying that to gain something, one has to lose something. But in this case, the public must decide whether they are prepared to sacrifice the Lum Shyllong forest and catchment area for the ropeway project.” The committee has urged the Tourism Department, Forest and Environment Department, and other agencies to halt further work until the Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun organises a proper public hearing open to all stakeholders. It has pledged to respect the outcome if a genuine majority supports the project, but warned that limited endorsement cannot be presented as broad consent.
A Project Caught Between Ambition and Ecology
The Shillong Ropeway is one of Meghalaya’s most high-profile tourism infrastructure projects. Costing Rs 151 crore, it is designed by French firm POMA as a monocable detachable gondola system spanning roughly 896 to 955 metres between Riat Laban and Shillong Peak. The system is expected to carry up to 600 passengers per hour on a four-minute ride with a vertical rise of nearly 300 metres. Funding comes primarily from the New Development Bank (approximately Rs 80.89 crore) and the PM-DevINE scheme (around Rs 70.11 crore).
Authorities project that the ropeway will ease congestion on the road to Shillong Peak, reduce vehicular emissions, and create a new landmark attraction capable of drawing more tourists. Construction has been underway since late 2023, with equipment arriving from abroad. Officials remain optimistic about completing the project ahead of its October 2028 target, with a post-monsoon push expected to speed up progress.
Yet the project has faced persistent resistance. Critics point to the alignment cutting through Lum Shyllong, the primary water catchment that feeds springs supplying large parts of Shillong. Early estimates spoke of felling around 324 trees; forest clearances later authorised the removal of 544 trees — a sharp increase that has alarmed residents and environmental groups. Compensatory afforestation is planned at a 10:1 ratio, but the replacement plantations are to be carried out in South West Khasi Hills rather than in the affected catchment itself. Opponents argue that planting trees far from the original site does little to restore the ecological functions of Lum Shyllong, particularly groundwater recharge and spring protection.
Cultural Significance and Traditional Authority
Beyond environmental concerns, Lum Shyllong holds deep cultural importance for the Khasi people. It is regarded as the abode of Lei Shyllong, a guardian deity. Traditional institutions have therefore become central to the dispute. The Office of the Acting Syiem of Hima Mylliem has sought additional documentation, including No Objection Certificates from the 11 Kur (clans) of Raid Mylliem, formal resolutions from local Dorbar Shnongs, and proper records of public hearings before considering further clearances or a trading licence.
The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) trading licence for the executing joint venture remains pending, even though a local headman has issued an NOC. State officials have largely left the licensing issue to be resolved between the KHADC and the contractor. Meanwhile, the Raid Laban Dorbar Pyllun has extended support to the project and called for faster implementation, creating a visible split among traditional bodies.
Government Stance and Counter-Arguments
The state government and the Meghalaya Ropeway Development Authority maintain that all required legal, forest, and environmental clearances are in place. Tourism officials have repeatedly stated that the project will not damage water sources and that fears are based on misunderstanding. They emphasise the tourism and employment benefits, arguing that modern infrastructure is essential for Meghalaya’s economic growth. Some local elected representatives have inspected the site and expressed confidence that the work can be completed on an accelerated timeline.
Political voices have also entered the debate. The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee has asked the government to place environmental impact studies in the public domain and questioned whether the scale of tree felling is justified for a tourism project. Individual MDCs have raised issues over the logic of compensatory afforestation far from the site and the absence of a valid trading licence during ongoing construction.
A Familiar Tension in the Hills
The controversy reflects a recurring tension across the Northeast: the push for tourism infrastructure versus the protection of fragile ecosystems and community rights over land and resources. Shillong already faces water stress in dry months, and any long-term damage to its primary catchment carries consequences that extend far beyond the immediate project area. At the same time, successive governments have viewed ropeways and similar projects as tools to diversify the economy and reduce pressure on roads leading to popular viewpoints.
The JAC has been careful to state that it does not oppose the idea of a ropeway in principle. Its demand is for an alternative alignment that spares Lum Shyllong and for a transparent process that allows residents to decide whether the benefits outweigh the risks. As machinery arrives and the post-monsoon construction window opens, the committee’s latest statement ensures that questions of consent, ecology, and cultural significance will remain at the centre of the debate.
Whether the government organises a fresh public hearing or presses ahead with the current alignment will shape not only the future of this particular project but also the broader conversation about how development is negotiated in the Khasi Hills. For now, the JAC remains unmoved, insisting that genuine public consent cannot be manufactured through limited consultations and that the water security of Shillong must take precedence over a tourism attraction.
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