Shillong, Apr 20 (PTI) The Meghalaya government on Monday announced that Lumpongdeng Island in the middle of scenic Umiam Lake near here will be kept out of the proposed luxury resort project, following protests and concerns raised by local stakeholders, Cabinet Minister Wailadmiki Shylla said.
The decision was announced by Shylla after a meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong with a delegation of the Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong of Ri Bhoi district.
A letter conveying the government’s decision was also issued by Joint Secretary in charge of Tourism, C S Khongwir to SRSRB chairman B B Makdoh.
“The government has decided to withdraw the tourism project from Lumpongdeng Island after the Synjuk raised concerns during the meeting. However, they are firm that they want the project to continue on the Umiam Lake Resort property,” Shylla told reporters.
He said the government had, from the beginning, maintained that no construction would take place on the island.
“Since day one, the government has been very clear that in the original agreement, there will be no construction on Lumpongdeng Island. It will be purely experiential tourism,” he said.
“Since the Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong, who are direct stakeholders, raised concerns from the public, and since we want whatever we do to have public support, we felt it is best at this point of time to withdraw Lumpongdeng Island from the project. The original project in the existing Orchid land will, however, continue,” Shylla added.
Appealing for cooperation, he said, “We want to make it clear that the government has no hidden agenda. We are very firm on that.” He said the government’s objective was to generate employment opportunities for local youth.
“We cannot give government jobs to everyone. That is why the government is trying to bring the Taj group, so that our youth get employment opportunities,” he said.
Responding to criticism that the government had yielded to pressure, Shylla said, “Many people may say that the government has bent down, but I would like to say that the government is not bending. We are listening to the aspirations of the people.” Meanwhile, the tourism department, in its letter, stated that “Lumpongdeng Island, measuring 36 acres, is excluded from the concession agreement dated February 25, 2026, executed between the Directorate of Tourism, Meghalaya and Umiam Hotel Pvt Ltd (Taj Resort and Spa), and the agreement will be suitably amended to incorporate this decision.” “The five-star luxury resort was proposed to be built in and around the land measuring 30 acres where the existing Umiam Orchid Lake Resort is currently located,” it added.
A group under the banner of the Green Tech Foundation has been staging a hunger strike to put pressure on the government to scrap the project. PTI JOP RG
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