Shillong, Jul 28: More than 500 matured trees have been cut down at the Shillong Peak forest to pave way for the tourist cable car project that will connect Lawsohtun, Madan Laban and Shillong View Point.
The project has earned the opposition of several women activists of Riat Laban who yesterday visited the site and saw the massive deforestation for the ropeway project. According to them, the major impact is the water supply to Shillong as the forest is the major source of drinking water for several areas of the city besides being a green lung of the city.
However, today the Meghalaya Ropeway Development Authority (MRDA) of the Tourism Department said that the felling of trees for the ropeway project was approved by the Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change (MOEFCC).
MRDA said that the Forest Clearance for the diversion of 2.3257 hectares of forest land at The the Shillong Peak forest was obtained from the MOFECC on October 24, 2024. Before that, another land of 2.3257 hectares was transferred to the Forest Department for compensatory tree plantation on September 22, 2023.
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According to the MRDA, public consultations had been held with members of the community on September 27, 2022 and also also with local stakeholders.
It also affirmed that Environmental Clearance was not required for the project and tree cutting permission for 544 trees was obtained from the Forest Department “and all trees have been marked and felled following the due process”.
MRDA also informed that land lease agreement for 7416.95 square kilometres was signed between the Raid Laban Dorbar Pyllun and Tourism Department on January 16, 2023.
The Rs 151 crore ropeway project is being taken up under the PM-DeVINE Scheme with Rs 80.89 crore from the New Development Bank and Rs 70.11 crore from the DONER Ministry.
Construction works for the ropeway project began on October 15, 2025. According to the MRDA, the ropeway will be 896 metre long and will have lower and upper terminal joints with 13 cabins designed as per CEN (European) standard.
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