SHILLONG : The Joint Action Committee (JAC) Against Shillong Ropeway Project on Friday launched a fresh attack on Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh, asking him to “do his homework” and understand the importance of Lum Shyllong before making statements about the proposed ropeway project.

The JAC intensified its agitation with a sit-in protest in front of the Kiang Nangbah statue at Barik, a day after the state government maintained that the Shillong Ropeway Project could neither be scrapped nor relocated after four years of signing the land lease agreement. The government had also stated that the project was located 3.15 kilometres away from water sources in the area.

Speaking during the protest, JAC member Venitia Mawlong said the street demonstration was not the beginning of their movement but a reminder that the committee had continued its opposition since the first day.

“We as the JAC have come out to the streets and this is not the beginning but it is to show the public that the JAC has not rested since the first day,” Mawlong said.

JAC hits back at Paul Lyngdoh

Mawlong directly criticised Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh over his reported remarks that there was no need to cry or weep over the ropeway project. She accused the minister of personally attacking the protesting mothers instead of addressing their concerns.

She questioned whether Lyngdoh understood the emotional and personal difficulties faced by women opposing the project.

“I want to make it clear especially to the Tourism Minister Bah Paul Lyngdoh, how can he say that there is no need to cry, to weep, does he understand what we mothers individually are going through, he should not personally attack us,” she said.

Recalling Lyngdoh’s earlier days as president of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Mawlong said people had once trusted him to unite the Khasi community and questioned why he was now opposing those raising concerns over Lum Shyllong.

She also urged the minister not to intimidate protesters or use his political position against them.

“Remember in the earlier times when he was still holding the post as president of the KSU, we had trust in Bah Paul because in those times he gathered us Khasi children, besides the fact that we are already a small community, why now does he oppose us,” she said.

JAC not considering court intervention for now

Asked whether the committee planned to approach the Meghalaya High Court to seek a stay on the ropeway project, Mawlong said the JAC had no such intention at present.

She explained that the committee wanted to continue its public agitation rather than depend entirely on legal proceedings.

“There is no intention, until now we do not yet have any intention or we have not yet thought of going up to the honourable court because you understand that if we do that our agitation will end, in the end who will fight for us, the lawyers of both sides will fight,” she said.

Mawlong also rejected the government’s position that the project would not affect drinking water sources, questioning how outsiders could claim to understand the area’s water sources better than local residents.

She accused Lyngdoh of changing his position towards the community after assuming ministerial office and alleged that his statements threatened not only residents of Raid Laban but also people across Shillong and the state.

“Do you think a person from outside knows the water sources for drinking, I do not think so and Bah Paul also should study, please do your homework, know more about Lum Shyllong,” Mawlong said.

Reaffirming the committee’s position, she said the protesters would not allow construction activities to proceed at Lum Shyllong.

“We stand firm and the end is just this, do not touch Lum Shyllong at all and we will not allow you to touch Lum Shyllong,” she declared.

GTF warns against commercialisation of Lum Shyllong

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Greentech Foundation (GTF), H Bansiewdor Nonglang, warned that the ropeway project could lead to the privatisation and commercialisation of Lum Shyllong, raising concerns over the proposed developments at both terminals.

Nonglang said the opposition to the project had been continuing for four to five months and Friday’s demonstration was intended to make residents aware of what he described as information the government had not adequately disclosed.

He said public attention had largely focused on the felling of 544 trees for the project, but argued that the proposed infrastructure at the lower and upper terminals also needed scrutiny.

“All of us talk about the 544 trees that were felled there, we are sad, we are deeply pained for those trees but do you know, at the lower terminal what those buildings mean, at the upper terminal what those buildings mean, do you know there will come restaurants, food courts, I am not just speaking words, here in writing it is all there,” Nonglang said.

He warned that the proposed commercial facilities could change the character of Lum Shyllong and urged the public to understand the implications before the area was developed.

“The public must understand before Lum Shyllong which is ours, is privatised, is commercialised, is exploited and if we lose it once, do not talk about Lum Shyllong anymore from now onwards,” he said.

GTF says it acted after residents sought help

Nonglang also defended the Greentech Foundation against allegations that it was instigating the protests, saying the organisation had acted cautiously after mothers from Laban and Lawsohtun approached it for assistance.

He recalled that during May, June and July 2026, residents had visited the GTF office seeking advice after tree-felling activities began at Lum Shyllong.

He said the foundation subsequently examined the situation and found that trees were indeed being felled.

“When mothers seek help, how can we refuse, we work for whom and now you say that the GTF is instigating this, if we have to agitate for the drinking water sources, we will agitate,” Nonglang said.

He maintained that the foundation’s involvement was driven by concerns raised by residents and its responsibility towards protecting the environment and drinking water sources.

The JAC and GTF reiterated that their opposition to the Shillong Ropeway Project would continue, with protesters insisting that Lum Shyllong should remain untouched