SHILLONG : The agitation against the proposed Shillong ropeway project intensified in Laban on Friday, with the Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the Shillong Ropeway Project questioning the absence of South Shillong MLA Sanbor Shullai amid growing opposition from residents.

Addressing the media during the ongoing sit-in protest, JAC president Deborah Marbaniang expressed disappointment over what she described as the MLA’s failure to visit residents and address their concerns, despite the controversy unfolding within his own constituency.

Marbaniang questioned why Shullai had not come forward to meet the protesters, particularly when tensions had emerged between the Rangbah Shnong and local residents over the ropeway project.

“What is surprising is that this incident has happened in the locality, an incident between the Rangbah Shnong and the residents, and what is surprising is where our representative has disappeared to,” she said.

She pointed out that even as residents continued their sit-in agitation, the MLA had not visited them to hear their grievances.

“Even while we are sitting here, he has not come to visit the residents. The MLA became a person because of all these voters of his. What is sad is, where is our representative, where is our MLA?” Marbaniang asked.

The JAC president said residents had supported Shullai throughout his political career, from his tenure as MDC to becoming an MLA and subsequently a minister, but now felt neglected when they needed his intervention.

“From the time he was MDC till now that he is MLA and minister, we supported him. Now he has disappeared. It is useless to elect a person who turns his back on us,” she alleged.

Marbaniang said residents expected their elected representative to stand with them and provide guidance in addressing issues affecting the locality.

She further accused the MLA of making promises during election campaigns but failing to engage with residents after securing their votes.

“During election time he promised heaven and earth, but now he has disappeared. We request Bah Sanbor Shullai to come, he should not leave us. Just because he himself is fine, he should not stop thinking about us. We too have the right to speak with the leader of the whole of Laban Pyllun,” she said.

JAC vows to continue agitation until ropeway project is scrapped

Reiterating the committee’s opposition to the proposed ropeway project from Madan Laban towards Shillong View Point at Lum Shyllong, Marbaniang said the protesters would continue their sit-in until the government officially cancelled the project.

She maintained that the agitation would not be withdrawn until their demand was addressed, even if the protesters had to make personal sacrifices.

“As long as the Government has not cancelled the project, we will continue to sit here. If needed, we will go hungry and we will give our lives, but the Government must remove the Ropeway from Lum Shyllong,” she declared.

The JAC also demanded that the Rangbah Shnong cancel the land lease agreement connected with the project, alleging that residents had not been informed before the land was leased to the government.

Marbaniang claimed that the community had been kept in the dark about the agreement and insisted that the land lease should be scrapped.

“The Rangbah Shnong should scrap the Land Lease. We did not even know that they leased it to the Government. We are kept in the dark,” she said.

The JAC maintained that its opposition to the project would continue until the government addressed the concerns of residents and the demand for cancellation of the ropeway project was fulfilled.