Shillong, October 17, 2026: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) Against the Shillong Ropeway Project has set October 26 as the deadline for the Meghalaya Government to withdraw the project, warning of intensified agitation if its demand is not met.
The ultimatum was announced during a peaceful protest on Saturday, as JAC members and residents marched towards the proposed ropeway site to express their opposition.
The protesters raised concerns over the protection of forests, water sources and the natural environment surrounding Lum Shyllong. However, they were not allowed to enter the project premises. Chairs were subsequently arranged along the road to accommodate senior citizens participating in the demonstration.
Addressing the gathering, speakers demanded that the government abandon the project at its present location and consider shifting it elsewhere. They maintained that decisions affecting local residents and the environment should not be taken without properly considering public concerns.
The protest also saw demands for the heads of the respective dorbar shnong to step down, with speakers expressing dissatisfaction over their handling of the issue.
Former Meghalaya Chief Secretary Barkos Warjri, who addressed the gathering, recalled his childhood memories of Malki and his visits to Lum Shyllong. He spoke about the area’s water sources and traditional engineering methods used in the past to maintain a supply of clean drinking water.
Warjri stressed the importance of preserving the surrounding forests and hills, particularly those protecting the area’s water sources. He appealed to the government to listen to residents and safeguard the natural environment.
Meanwhile, Green Tech Foundation chairman Haban Nonglang said the JAC would give the government until October 26 to withdraw the project. He warned that failure to meet the demand would lead to intensified agitation.
The JAC reiterated its opposition to the ropeway project at the proposed site, insisting that residents’ concerns and the protection of Lum Shyllong’s forests and water sources must be given serious consideration.
