SHILLONG, OCT 29: Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Thursday expressed hope that the controversy surrounding the Shillong Ropeway project would be resolved in the coming days or weeks, asserting that the government had followed due legal procedures and obtained the necessary clearances before proceeding with the project.
Dhar said the government was examining the matter and hoped that the issue would be settled soon.
“There is controversy, and the government is examining the matter. We hope it will be okay in the next few days or weeks,” he said, maintaining that all necessary clearances had been obtained from the concerned departments before the project was taken forward.
Responding to opposition to the project, the Deputy Chief Minister said the government had not rushed the process and had proceeded step by step in accordance with the law.
He also referred to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma’s earlier clarification on the matter, stating that the required departmental clearances had been secured before the tender was issued.
On the concerns raised by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Dhar said the state government and the district council had their respective ways of functioning but needed to work together in the interest of the people.
“The government knows how to work, and the district council works in its own way, but we have to work together for the benefit of the people,” he said.
Acknowledging that questions had been raised over the project, Dhar maintained that the differences could be addressed through cooperation between the government and the district council.
The Shillong Ropeway project has faced opposition and questions over its implementation, with the latest controversy prompting the government to examine the matter.