Shillong, April,20 : In a move that proves the power of local voices, the state government officially pulled the plug on the controversial Lumpongdeng project on Monday.
Following a high-pressure meeting with the Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong Ri-Bhoi (SRSRB), Cabinet Minister Wailadmiki Shylla confirmed that the government is stepping back from the island development, though the planned luxury hotel at the Orchid Resort will still move forward.
The decision didn’t happen in a vacuum. It comes as the Green Tech Foundation (GTF) enters the second week of a grueling hunger strike that began on April 9.
While the government insists it isn’t “bowing down” to pressure, the timing makes it clear that the sustained outcry from both activists and traditional village heads finally hit home.
Shylla pointed out that since the traditional heads of Ri-Bhoi are the direct stakeholders of the land, their firm opposition was the deciding factor.Interestingly, the Minister defended the original vision, claiming it was always about “experiential tourism” rather than heavy construction.
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He maintained that the administration never intended to hide project details, but simply wanted to boost local welfare. Now that the island project is off the table, the government is calling on the GTF to end their hunger strike, framed as a gesture of good faith now that their core demand has been met.