SHILLONG, APR 9: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday clarified that the state government has barred any permanent construction on the Lumpongdeng Island.
His statement came after a hunger strike protest was launched by the Green-Tech Foundation activists outside the Secretariat demanding that Lumpongdeng Island be exempted from tourism projects,
“I would like to take this opportunity to clarify to everyone that in the agreement that has been signed, the government and the tourism department has made it very clear that there will be no permanent construction that can take place on the island,” Sangma said.
Addressing concerns that the island would be converted into a concrete setup, the Chief Minister said, “The concerns that are there that the entire Island will be made into a concrete set up is completely wrong. The government has made it clear in the agreement that no permanent structure is going to be allowed in the Island.”
Sangma explained that only temporary structures would be permitted to leverage the location for events.
“Temporary structures, shamianas, pandals and temporary stalls, which are going to be dismantled once the programme is over like we do in Ward’s Lake… will be barely for a week or ten days and then removed,” he said.
“Hence, there will be no impact of any sort on the Island or on the overall flora and fauna in that location.”
He added that despite environmental laws permitting construction in certain sections with forest department approval, the tourism department has taken a firm stand.
“Even though environmentally the laws are allowing it, the tourism department has taken a firm stand and put in the agreement that no permanent constructions will be allowed in that particular Island,” Sangma said.
“I hope with this small clarification, the concerns of the citizens will be addressed,” he added.
