SHILLONG, APR 18: The Green Tech Foundation (GTF) on Saturday reaffirmed its “stringent” stand to continue the indefinite hunger strike over Lumpongdeng Island, as its chairman’s health worsened.

“We are very firm and our stand is very stringent that even in the absence of our chairman from here in Malki ground, we as the foundation, has taken the decision since last night that in order to perpetuate this hunger strike I as the secretary general had begun my hunger strike last night at about 6.20 pm and until now my hunger strike has crossed about 24 hours,” GTF secretary general Ritre Lyngdoh told media persons as their protest entered the 10th day.

The chairman H Bansiewdor Nonglang, who was hospitalized on Friday, remains committed to the protest despite his condition.

“Even though in the midst of weakness and loss of health, he still remains very strong and firm to not break this indefinite hunger strike… we are very concerned about his health because even up to this moment, there is no sign of improvement,” Lyngdoh said.

Maintaining that the GTF’s demand remains unchanged, he said, “Our stand on this issue is the same. We have not changed our stand a bit. In our petition being filed, time and again, we have been mentioning and have been demanding and requesting the government to scrap and withdraw the agreement by which Lumpongdeng Island has been made an ambit of scope in the development of the luxury resort and spa.”

Lyngdoh questioned the rationale of the long-term lease given the government’s position that no construction is planned on the island.

“As of now, there has been no formal communication after we have received the letter from the Joint Secretary in-charge Tourism department. In response to that, we have sent our replies with contention that if there is no construction on Lumpongdeng Island then what is the meaning of the lease agreement for 60 years.”

Citing RTIs received from the Revenue and Disaster Management department, he said the GTF had learned “about the scheme of how the Tourism department became the lessee of that land.”

“We make it very clear to the government that whatever steps, whatever intent you have with the Island that does not belong to you,” Lyngdoh said.

“Even though there are rumours or a message from here and there that the chief minister himself had said that it is government land, I would like to remind the people at large that when people talk about government land it is public property. Its maintenance, its development, its upkeep is done by the public exchequer which is us, our pockets as taxpayers. So, it is on public property and we also have a big part as stakeholders in any kind of alteration.”

He added that a women’s organization from Ri Bhoi district has announced it will join the hunger strike, though not indefinitely, and thanked other groups and residents for their solidarity.