A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Meghalaya High Court has stalled progress on the Shillong Ropeway Project due to concerns over tree felling in the Lawsohtun area. A state-level committee informed the court that numerous trees were cut down in East Khasi Hills’ Raid Laban Reserve Forest to make way for the Shillong Peak Ropeway Cable Car Project, initiated by the Tourism Department.
Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh responded to the court’s concerns, stating that the government had secured all required clearances, including permission from the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, prior to starting work. He emphasized that the project adhered to legal requirements and that the court had been duly informed of the approvals.
Lyngdoh added that afforestation would follow the project’s completion and that current efforts are focused on clearing construction hurdles. The court, reacting to the PIL alleging indiscriminate tree felling, urged the state-level committee to actively oversee the process, rather than delegating responsibility solely to subordinate officers, for better environmental accountability.