Tourism dept asks KHADC to unlock ropeway camp site

Shillong, Oct 30: The tourism department has asked the KHADC to immediately unlock the lower terminal of Shillong ropeway project in Madan Laban.and return the seized materials.

In a letter issued on Friday (Oct 30) to the secretary Executive Committee of the KHADC, the joint secretary to tourism department threatened to take legal course to secure the government land where the camp site is set up.

Full text of the order below 

GOVERNMENT OF MEGHALAYA

TOURISM DEPARTMENT

No.Tourism. 33/2020/Pt/102

Dated Shillong the  30^th October  2026.

From: Smti C.S.Khongwir,Joint Secretary to the Tourism Department. Govt of Meghalaya

To,

The Secretary to the Executive Committee,

Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council,

Shillong.

Subject:  Sealing of the Lower Terminal Point site of the Shillong Peak Ropeway Project at Madan Laban and seizure of project articles on 27.10.2026 — demand for removal of seals and withdrawal of the seizure

Sir,

1. I am directed to write to you on behalf of the Government of Meghalaya and the Meghalaya Ropeway Development Authority (“the Authority”), which are “Promoters” within the meaning of Section 2(q)(i) and (ii) of the Meghalaya Ropeway Act, 2022 (“the Ropeway Act”) in respect of the Shillong Peak Ropeway Project (“the Project”).
2. On 27.10.2026, between about 10:30 AM and 12:00 PM, officers of the Enforcement Wing of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, led by Shri Kordor Synrem, Inspector entered the Lower Terminal Point site of the Project at Madan Laban. They evicted the project staff, placed locks and cloth seals on the doors of the site office, prepared seizure lists, and obtained undertakings of custody (Zima-namas) from the site managers of the executing agency, M/s KEC-TCL (JV). The seizure lists and Zima-namas state that the action was taken under Section 7A of the United Khasi-Jaintia Hills District (Trading by Non-Tribals) Regulation, 1954 (“the Regulation”), on the ground that Section 3 of the Regulation had been violated.
3. The Project is a public infrastructure project of the State Government, executed through the Authority as the State nodal agency under Section 3(1) of the Ropeway Act. Final (Stage-II) approval for the use of 2.3257 ha of forest land in Riat Laban Reserve Forest and Riat Laban Forest for the Project was granted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change by letter No. FP/ML/OTHERS/419426/2023 dated 24.10.2024. M/s KEC-TCL (JV) executes the works under the authority of the Promoter.
4. The M/s KEC-TCL (JV) is the contractor appointed by the Tourism Department, who had applied for a trading licence on 18.05.2026 after getting the necessary NOC from the Riat Laban Dorbar Pyllun. The issue of trading-licence is pending with the KHADC.
5. Further, under Section 30(2) of the Meghalaya Ropeway Act, 2022 which provides for the Promoterto undertake preparatory activities, including tendering and the on boarding of contractors but shall have to obtain a licence under this section before the commencement of construction. The preparatory work as stated above is not a trade, hence having trading licence at this stage does not arise.

Further, the land where the preparatory works are being undertaken belong to the state government.

You are accordingly called upon to immediately:

(i) remove the locks and seals immediately placed on the Lower Terminal Point site and site office at Madan Laban;

(ii) withdraw the seizure of 27.10.2026 and the undertakings of custody (Zima-namas) obtained from the site managers, and release all articles seized; and

(iii) confirm in writing that no further action will be taken under the Regulation against the State Government, the Authority or the executing agency in respect of the Project.

6. If the above is not done immediately, the Government will be constrained to take such steps as are open to it in law, through the competent authorities, to remove the obstruction and secure the site and the Project works. You will be responsible for any consequences, including costs and delay to the Project.
7. This letter is issued without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the State Government and the Authority, including in the First Information Report lodged at Laban Police Station on 27.10.2026.

This issue with the approval of the Competent Authority and the Law Department.

Yours faithfully,

Joint Secretary to the Govt. of Meghalaya

Tourism Department

No.Tourism. 33/2020/Pt/102-A                Dated Shillong the  30^th October  2026