Nongpoh, Apr 24: Despite the recent decision by the State government to revoke the proposed tourism project at Lumpongdeng Island in Umïam Lake as demanded by the Green Tech Foundation and to go ahead with only the proposed Taj Umïam Resort and Spa, an organisation from Ri-Bhoi has emerged to oppose the resort project.
The Ri-Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF) in its central executive committee held at Nongpoh today set two conditions before allowing the resort project. It demanded implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Meghalaya and completion of expansion of the Umroi airport.
Speaking to media persons, RBYF president Bipul Thangkhiew said implementation of ILP and expansion of Umroi airport are important before the resort project at Umïam is initiated.
“RBYF will be the first to welcome the proposed Taj Umïam Resort and Spa if ILP is in place and Umroi airport is expanded for landing of big flights,” Thangkhiew said.
Asserting that ILP is needed to check influx of people from other places into Meghalaya, the RBYF president urged Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to lead all the MLAs of the State to New Delhi for a protest at Jantar Mantar to pressurise the Central government on the ILP issue.
Thangkhiew also said that completion of the expansion work for Umroi airport would benefit tourism as big aircraft would be able to land at the airport and as such visitors would no longer have to land in Guwahati for a pleasure trip to Meghalaya.
“Having a fully functioning airport with big commercial planes operating would be a boost to our tourism industry. Our people would get direct and indirect employment. Even our local taxi operators would benefit from ferrying tourists to various destinations in the State,” the RBYF leader added.
While the airport expansion issue is valid for tourism development, however, it remains unclear as to how ILP is connected to creation of accomodation facilities for high end tourists when already hotels, resorts and homestays are operating across the State despite the absence of ILP.
