SHILLONG, NOV 6: The Shillong ropeway fight took a new turn on Friday after KHADC opposition leader and UDP general secretary Titosstarwell Chyne offered the government a way out — build the ropeway where it was originally proposed, in Mawsynram-Sohra, instead of forcing it through a contested site in the city.
Chyne also put the ropeway firm on notice: no work without a trading licence under the Sixth Schedule, and the KHADC must be ready to defend its sealing action on principle — or not defend it at all.
Speaking on the stiff opposition to the project, Chyne struck a middle line. He backed development, but drew a red line on environment and livelihood.
“We all want development, especially that which will open up opportunities and improve the economy of the state,” he said.
“But at the same time, I do not want any development to compromise either on the environment, or to affect the life of the people,” he said.
He then turned the minister’s own argument on its head. If the government says the Shillong project cannot be moved, Chyne asked, why was an older, sanctioned ropeway allowed to vanish?
“I want to remind you that in the year 2015-2016, during the government of Dr Mukul Sangma, there was a proposal that the ropeway would come from Mawsynram to connect with Sohra, and this also appeared in the budget provision,” he said.
“But the surprising thing is that after that, it disappeared,” he said.
“And as a representative of the constituency, I want to remind the government once again that there is a proposal to connect Mawsynram and Sohra by ropeway,” he added.
On the minister’s stand that shifting is impossible, Chyne was blunt:
“If it is possible to jump party from one to another, then shifting a project should also be possible,” he said.
“Sometimes projects that do not get a place are shifted elsewhere. There are roads that are opposed, they are shifted elsewhere,” he said.
Chyne refused to be drawn into a final verdict on the Laban protests, saying the call belongs to those directly affected.
“I leave it to the wisdom of the residents of Laban and other places, because there it involves the Rangbah Shnong, the mothers,” he said.
“Until I am not clear what is the advantage and what is the disadvantage regarding this project, I cannot yet give a comment,” he said.
On the KHADC sealing a property linked to the ropeway, Chyne said the Executive Committee cannot afford to blink now.
“When the District Council does like that, it means it has a stand, or they do it after they have based it on principle,” he said.
“If they do it haphazardly, then it is over. But if they do it with principle, then they must uphold their principle,” he said.
“It lies with the EC. When they have done anything which they feel has a principle, it means they must uphold the principle,” he added.
He then laid down the legal test that, in his view, settles the dispute over the sealed office.
“As per the Trading by Non-Tribals Regulation Act, any Non-Tribal, any company that wants to do business, do a contract, or do any work within the jurisdiction of the Sixth Schedule, must obtain a trading license,” he said.
“That is clear. There is no need to debate that,” he said.
“Some say it is government land, some say it is village land, or the Syiem’s, but I have spoken clearly: this company must obtain a trading license before starting work,” he said.
“If that office is on government land, and that office which was locked is of the Government, then the District Council is wrong to do that,” he said.
“But if that office is of the company from outside, the District Council must show that, why it went to lock it, because it has not yet got a trading license,” he added.
