Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong has assured that the government is open to talks with the Green Tech Foundation, which is staging a hunger strike protest against the proposed tourism project at Umiam lake and Lumpongdeng Island.
“The door of the government is always open. We have clarified our stance, and we are willing to provide further clarification if needed,” Tynsong said. When asked if the government would send a messenger to invite the protesters for talks at the secretariat, he replied, “No, not necessarily. The door of the government is always open for further clarification and discussion.”
The deputy chief minister has assured that the government is committed to protecting the environment while promoting tourism in Meghalaya. The GTF is demanding the scrapping of the project for construction of the five-star Taj resort and spa citing environmental concerns. The Foundation alleges that the project would lead to the destruction of the island’s ecosystem and benefit only a select few.