Shillong, Oct 28: Irked by the alleged surreptious leasing of Lum Shyllong Forest for the proposed tourist ropeway project, residents of Laban area have sought the removal of all headmen involved in the deal.
It may noted that the headmen of Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun have in 2023 leased out the forest land at Lum Shyllong to the State Tourism Department for setting up of a cable car for tourists.
The Joint Action Committee Against Shillong Ropeway Project today met the Syiem of Hima Mylliem, Ainam Manik Syiem and urged him to cancel the Sanad (appointment order) issued to the seven headmen involved in the land deal.
“Today, we the Joint Action Committee representing all residents of the Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun met the Syiem of Hima Mylliem and gave a strong message to him to scrap the appointment of these Rangbah Shnongs who are involved in the ropeway project becaused they have betrayed the residents of Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun,” JAC president Deborah Marbañiang told media persons.
According to her, the Lum Shyllong Forest is a community land and headmen are only custodians of the land.
Marbañiang also stated that the Rangbah Shnongs have been told clearly in the Sanad issued to them that they should not misuse community land.
“Shillong Viewpoint and the entire forest land is a public property and a community land. The owners of the land are the residents of Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun. The Sanad issued to the headmen gives them the right to be only the custodians, to look after and maintain the land. They have no right to auction, sell, buy or lease the land,” she added.
The JAC president further informed that the functionaries of Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun had recently assured to withdraw the land lease agreement signed with the Tourism Department for the proposed ropeway project.
“Earlier, we met the chairman and secretary of Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun to discuss this issue. They gave us a clear assurance to withdraw the land lease agreement. Today, they said that they will call a meeting and give us in writing that they will withdraw the agreement,” Marbañiang said.
Threatening to intensify the protest if the ropeway project is not scrapped, Marbañiang said, “The Rangbah Shnongs should withdraw the lease agreement, and the State government too should scrap this project. If they fail to do so, we will intensify our protest.”
It may be mentioned that the Tourism Department and Riat Laban Dorbar signed an agreement for lease of 7416.95 square metre of land in Lum Shyllong on January 16, 2023.
Under the agreement, the lease was for 35 years.
Following the lease agreement, the Tourism Department has started the work for building a ropeway for tourist connecting Madan Laban with Shillong Viewpoint. Around 544 trees have been cut down for the project.
Besides the growing public opposition on environmental grounds, the ropeway project estimated at Rs 151 crore has now hit a roadblock as the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has sealed the project site due to failure by the company executing the project to obtain trading license
