Authorities in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district reopened the lower terminal site of the proposed Shillong Ropeway project after removing locks that had been placed by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) over alleged licensing violations.
A team of magistrates, accompanied by police personnel, arrived at the Madan Laban project site and removed the locks from both the entrance gate and the office of the company executing the ropeway project.
The KHADC had sealed the premises on October 27, claiming that the company was carrying out activities without obtaining the mandatory licence from the autonomous district council.
District authorities confirmed that the locks at the Lower Terminal Point in Madan Laban were removed by magistrates and police officials. Following the reopening, security personnel were deployed at the site to ensure law and order and prevent any untoward incidents.
The move comes amid an ongoing dispute between the state government and the KHADC regarding the council’s action against the government-owned infrastructure project.
Earlier, the Meghalaya Tourism Department filed an FIR against a KHADC inspector, alleging that he had unlawfully sealed the premises of the ropeway project.
The reopening marks the latest development in the standoff over the council’s insistence that the executing company obtain the required licence before proceeding with project-related operations.
