The Meghalaya government has revealed that 545 trees have been felled for the construction of the Shillong Peak Ropeway Project. However, officials have maintained that the project alignment has been deliberately kept away from key catchment areas and will not affect the Patakhana and Wahingdoh water sources.
A meeting and site inspection were held on Saturday to address growing concerns over the environmental impact of the ropeway project. The meeting was attended by district administration officials, concerned government departments, and representatives of local Dorbars. Tourism Department Commissioner and Secretary R. M. Kurbah stated that the tree felling was undertaken after obtaining the required statutory clearances.
Kurbah explained that the initial design of the project had a lower ropeway height, but it was later found that trees reaching around 25 meters could be affected by the alignment. As a result, the government revised the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and increased the height of the ropeway cable cars and stations to minimize tree cutting. She also sought to address concerns over the impact of the project on water sources, stating that there are no water sources in the vicinity of the project site that would be adversely affected by construction.
To compensate for the trees felled, large-scale plantation activities are being undertaken. Officials added that additional trees would be planted if more land is made available for plantation. The meeting and site inspection were part of efforts to address concerns raised by local residents and Dorbars over tree felling, protection of water sources, and the overall environmental impact of the project.
Regarding safety concerns, officials said the design and safety standards of the ropeway had been reviewed by IIT Delhi. Various technical measures, including ground stabilization during construction, are also being implemented. The construction company has assured that safety would be given the highest priority during the project’s construction.
The Shillong Peak Ropeway is Meghalaya’s first major passenger ropeway project and has been officially targeted for completion by 2028. However, the construction company has stated that it will make efforts to complete the project ahead of the scheduled deadline.
