SHILLONG, OCTOBER 28: The Meghalaya Tourism Department has filed a First Information Report (FIR) against a Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) inspector for locking the lower terminal site of the proposed Shillong Ropeway Project at Lawsohtun, Commissioner and Secretary of Tourism RM Kurbah said on Wednesday.
Kurbah described the action as illegal, maintaining that the lower terminal site is government property and that the department had established only a temporary camp there.
“The lower terminal point belongs to the government. We have set up only a temporary camp there. The move carried out on government property is illegal and not welcome. We have taken action to take over the site immediately,” she said.
Confirming that an FIR had been lodged at Laban Police Station, Kurbah said no arrest had been made so far and that the police were carrying out their investigation.
She clarified that construction work on the ropeway project had not started, rejecting allegations that work was already underway at the site.
According to Kurbah, the temporary camp is mandatory under New Development Bank norms to ensure environmental and social safeguards. The activities planned at this stage include soil testing, approach road preparation and land levelling. She stressed that no excavation for the six pillars or the terminal had taken place.
On the permissions and procedures followed for the project, Kurbah said the work order was issued on October 25, 2025, while the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Dorbar Pyllun was received on May 4, 2026. An application for a trading licence was subsequently submitted to KHADC on May 18, 2026.
She added that an NOC was sought from the Syiem of Mylliem on July 16, with a letter received on July 28. A show-cause notice was issued on August 27, to which the contractor submitted a reply. The department also received an NOC from the Dorbar Myntri of San Kur and 11 Kur on September 28.
Kurbah maintained that the permission process was ongoing and transparent, while stating that obtaining permission from KHADC remained within the council’s prerogative.
On public consultation, she said the ropeway project required public consultation rather than a formal hearing, adding that both the upper terminal area under Raid Laban and the lower terminal area, which she said belonged to the government, had been consulted in 2022 without objections.
She also pointed out that the foundation stone for the project had been laid by the Chief Minister and that the project had been declared by the President of India. According to her, objections should have been raised at that stage.
Responding to concerns related to Lum Shyllong, Kurbah said the site was located 3.15 kilometres away from the proposed ropeway terminal.
The Shillong Ropeway Project has remained a subject of public debate, with concerns over permissions, environmental safeguards and local opposition continuing to draw attention.