A tense standoff has emerged in Meghalaya over the proposed privatisation of Lumpongdeng Island, as the Green-Tech Foundation (GTF) intensified its protest with a dramatic ultimatum to the state government. GTF chairman H Bansiewdor Nonglang, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for 10 days, was shifted from Civil Hospital to Woodland Hospital after his health deteriorated significantly. Despite medical concerns, he continues to refuse food. In his absence, GTF secretary general Ritre Lyngdoh has taken over the hunger strike. Addressing the media at Malki Ground, Lyngdoh warned that if the government does not immediately revoke the 60-year lease granted for a luxury resort on Lumpongdeng Island, the protest could result in fatalities.
“We intend to send a very strong message to the authorities. If Lumpongdeng is not returned, two ambulances carrying two bodies may leave from Malki Ground,” Lyngdoh said. The GTF claims that the island, located in the Umiam region, belongs to the public and that the long-term lease to a private entity would deprive local communities of their rights over the land. The state government has yet to issue a direct response to the escalating crisis. However, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong defended the administration’s approach, stating that patience and dialogue remain the preferred means of addressing dissent.
Tynsong, along with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, emphasized that the government is committed to engaging with stakeholders rather than resorting to force. He, however, did not provide a specific timeline for resolving the ongoing dispute. As the hunger strike continues and public concern grows, the situation poses a significant challenge for the state administration amid rising criticism over the handling of environmental and community issues.