Amid the ongoing controversy over the proposed Taj Umiam Luxury Resort & Spa project, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the government is ready to bring out a white paper to address public concerns.
Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister said the government is open to placing all details of the project in the public domain. He reiterated that the main concern raised by protesters—regarding construction on Lumpongdeng Island—has already been clarified.
He stated that no construction will take place on Lumpongdeng Island and that the proposed five-star hotel will instead be developed at the existing Orchid Hotel site near Umiam. According to him, this position has been clear from the beginning and has been repeated multiple times.
On the ongoing protests, including the hunger strike by members of the Green-Tech Foundation, Sangma said the government has been monitoring the health of the agitators and has arranged medical assistance at the protest site after some refused to be hospitalised.
He added that since the issue of construction on the island has been addressed, there appears to be no reason for the protests to continue.
The Chief Minister also noted that the demands of the protesters seem to have shifted towards scrapping the memorandum of understanding (MoU), adding that the basis for such a demand is not clearly defined.
Highlighting the broader vision, he said the project is part of a larger tourism strategy that includes investments in hotels, homestays, transport, and local businesses, aimed at generating employment and boosting the state’s economy.
He stressed that tourism initiatives should be viewed as a whole rather than in isolation.
Sangma also acknowledged that confusion over the project had led to concerns and said the government has been engaging with stakeholders and providing clarifications to address the issues.