SHILLONG, APR 15: Green Tech Foundation chairman H Bansiewdor Nonglang will not withdraw his indefinite hunger strike after the tourism department refused to revoke the agreement that includes Lumpongdeng Island in the Taj Resort & Spa project.

The decision was taken after a meeting with Director of Tourism BL Pakyntein yielded no assurance to scrap the project.

“Today being the seventh day of the indefinite hunger strike, our chairman has fallen weak as the days passed by. This morning, the district administration has asked us to meet with the Director of Tourism BL Pakyntein,” GTF secretary general Ritre Lyngdoh said on Wednesday.

He added that the meeting was convened at short notice without prior written assurance.

“However, they did not come with the written assurance and later in the evening at around 4.40pm, we received letter saying that there would be a meeting that has been convened by the Director of Tourism,” he stated.

“After we had a meeting among team members, we had taken a decision that we shall go and attend the meeting,” Lyngdoh said.

Describing the outcome, he said the department remained firm on retaining the island in the project.

“The outcome of the meeting is quite very disappointing. We have been sitting for more than 6 days hoping for a very productive result from the government’s end that they will scrap this project. However, after deliberating on many issues with environment being the crux of the discussion, the department of tourism is adamant that they will not revoke the agreement that mentioned Lumpongdeng Island will be part of the luxury resort and spa,” he said.

Following the meeting, GTF announced the protest will intensify.

“Therefore, on such a disappointing outcome of the meeting, the Green Tech Foundation through the chairman announces that the indefinite hunger strike shall carry on and demonstration as guaranteed by the Constitution of India shall be amplified,” Lyngdoh said.