Shillong, Oct 30: The Meghalaya Government and the KHADC are at loggerheads over the Shillong Peak Ropeway Project after KHADC officials locked the work site at Madan Laban in Shillong.
According to the Government, on October 27, KHADC enforcement officials led by Inspector Kordor Synrem entered the Lower Terminal Point site, sent the workers out, locked the site office and seized materials, saying the contractor did not have a trading licence.
The Tourism Department has now written to the KHADC saying this action is wrong and must be removed immediately.
The Government said the ropeway is a State Government project being built by the Meghalaya Ropeway Development Authority. The Centre has already given final forest clearance for 2.32 hectares of land at Riat Laban on October 24, 2024.
It also said the contractor M/s KEC-TCL had applied for a trading licence on May 18, 2026 after getting permission from the local Dorbar and the application is still pending with KHADC. Even otherwise, the law says preparatory work like tendering and hiring contractors is not trading, so no trading licence is needed at this stage. The land where work is going on belongs to the State Government.
The Government has asked KHADC to immediately open the locks, return the seized materials and give in writing that no more such action will be taken. It warned that if KHADC does not do so, the Government will take legal steps and KHADC will be responsible for any loss or delay. An FIR has already been filed at Laban Police Station on the same day.
