Shillong, July 25: The opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) has ‘strongly’ opposed the government’s move to transfer over 300 acres of land belonging to the forest department for implementation of the Umiam Lake beautification plan to promote tourism industry in the state.
In a letter shot to the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday, VPP president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said, “The VPP voices its strong opposition to the government’s recently announced plan to beautify and redevelop the area in and around the Umiam Lake in Ri Bhoi district.”
“While the VPP is not opposed to the development and expansion of the tourism sector in Meghalaya, we strongly believe that such developments should not come at the expense of environmental sustainability and the well-being of local communities. We urge the government to reconsider its current approach and explore alternative, move sustainable methods of achieving economic growth and tourism development,” he added.
Basaiawmoit said that while the intent to boost tourism and economic growth is appreciated, this plan has several significant drawbacks, particularly concerning environmental sustainability and the well-being of local communities.
He also highlighted that party’s opposition has been tethered on five points – deforestation and eco system disruption, impact on Umiam Lake’s ecosystem, sustainability of tourism, impact on local communities and road infrastructure and traffic congestion.
The VPP leader said that the plan to allocate 300 acres of land for the beautification of the Umiam lake may pose a severe threat to the local ecosystem. This move could lead to extensive deforestation, disrupting the habitat of various flora and fauna and leading to soil erosion, which will negatively impact the Umiam Lake’s water quality.
Historical data shows that Meghalaya lost 17,100 hectares of forest land between 2014 and 2020. Given this alarming rate of deforestation, it is crucial to protect our remaining forests rather than converting them for tourism infrastructure.
Further, Basaiawmoit said that the introduction of extensive water sports and entertainment facilities around Umiam lake could lead to further pollution, despite assurance of lake rejuvenation. The additional human activity and potential pollution from boats and other water sports equipment could overwhelm these efforts and result in long-term environment degradation.
He was also of the opinion that the focus on attracting high-value tourists through luxury facilities and helicopter services may not be sustainable or inclusive. “Such a model might not benefit local communities as much as grassroots, eco-friendly tourism initiatives would. There is a risk that the heavy investment in luxury tourism might not yield the anticipated economic benefits if it fails to attract the targeted number of high-spending tourists,” he stated.
Stating that the current plan does not adequately consider the needs and concerns of the local communities living around Umiam Lake, Basaiawmoit said that these communities could face displacement or significant changes to their way of life without proper consultation and compensation. The emphasis on high-end tourism could marginalize local vendors and small businesses that currently thrive on more accessible budget-friendly tourism.
Furthermore, the VPP chief said that the existing road infrastructure is already inadequate to support the current traffic levels. He anticipated that introducing additional tourism-related traffic without significant improvements to the road infrastructure could worsen traffic congestion and lead to further deterioration of road conditions. The decongestion plan for Shillong must be thoroughly evaluated and implemented before adding more tourism-related traffic to the area, he added.
Also Read: Ardent claims VPP making inroads in Garo Hills, no ‘hasty’ call on Gambegre bye-election
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