Shillong (Meghalaya), March 31: The Meghalaya Department of Tourism has clarified that reports claiming the Taj Umiam Resort & Spa project is environmentally unsustainable are factually incorrect. The project, spanning 66 acres, aims to promote high-value, low-impact tourism while ensuring ecological protection.
The department stated that the project has obtained necessary approvals, including Consent to Establish (CTE), and has partnered with Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) for operation and maintenance. IHCL’s sustainability framework, aligned with the EarthCheck Certified Program, will guide the project, prioritizing biodiversity conservation, pollution control, and waste minimization.
However, environmental groups like Green-Tech Foundation and Mahila Congress have raised concerns about potential ecological damage, citing increased siltation, tree felling, and disruption of aquatic life. The project allegedly violates Meghalaya Waterbodies (Preservation and Conservation) Guidelines, 2023, and central pollution control norms.
