No permanent structure will be allowed in Umiam’s Pongdeng island
HYC & VPP condemn govt stand
Shillong, April 9: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has clarified that the state government will not make any permanent structures in Umiam’s Pongdeng island.
In a video statement released on Thursday, the chief minister said that only temporary structures will be allowed which can be dismantled after events.
Earlier in the day, the police and the East Khasi Hills district administration disallowed prolonged protests of the activists of Green-Tech Foundation after they assembled infront of the secretariat against tourism projects in the island.
The HYC has criticised the government and the East Khasi Hills district administration for denying permission to the Green-Tech Foundation to stage a peaceful protest in front of the Secretariat.
In a statement issued on Thursday, HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem stated, “Such action by the authorities is deeply disappointing and raises serious concerns about the government’s commitment to democratic values and the constitutional right of citizens to peacefully express their views on matters of public and environmental importance.”
The VPP also criticised the government for mishandling the protest.
“VPP reiterates its serious concern over the complete lack of transparency on the issue of land allotment at Umiam, particularly concerning Lumpongdeng. The party has consistently raised this matter through official communications and even on the floor of the Assembly. However, the government has failed to provide clear, credible, and transparent information to the public. The people of Meghalaya have the right to know the details of any agreement involving their land and natural resources. The continued silence and opacity of the government only raise suspicion about whose interests are truly being served”, the VPP said.
Earlier, the chief minister said,”I would like to take this opportunity to clarify to everyone that in the agreement that has been signed, the government and the tourism department has made it very clear that there will be no permanent construction that can take place on the island. The concerns that are there that the entire Island will be made into a concrete set up is completely wrong. The government has made it clear in the agreement that no permanent structure is going to be allowed in the Island. Temporary structures, shamianas, pandals and temporary stalls, will be dismantled once the programme is over like we do in Ward’s Lake… will be barely for a week or ten days and then removed. Hence, there will be no impact of any sort on the Island or on the overall flora and fauna in that location.”
