SHILLONG: Miffed at the negative effect on tourism in world famous Cherrapunjee and its surrounding areas due to the spate of agitations called by pro-ILP pressure group, the Ka Synjuk Ka Khlieh Nongsynshar-Thain Sohra has shot off letters to local legislator Tistosstarwell Chyne and Leader of the Opposition Dr Donkupar Roy that speak of the present situation in the State which has seriously affected the common man in Sohra especially those who depend on tourism and its allied activities.
Ka Synjuk Ka Khlieh Nongsynshar-Thain Sohra (KSKKNTS) lamented that sales have tremendously dropped and this is detrimental to the economic growth of those families who live by it and also those who are daily wage earners.
“The agitations have hurt the farmers and poor people very badly,” the letters stated.
The group sought help from the legislators to appeal to the agitators to stop all their activities considering that the peak tourist season is due.
According to the group, the coming tourist season is the only time when these poor people earn enough to sustain themselves for the whole year, and should this be lost, these families would suffer terribly for the coming months and years.
The group also asked the legislators to ensure that no bills or laws which hurt the tourism sector in Sohra are introduced in the upcoming Assembly session.
Asserting that the issue of influx was a serious one, the Ka Synjuk Ka Khlieh Nongsynshar was, however, of the opinion that the British Colonial Law should not be used as a weapon or a shield.
“The enlightened, well educated and democratically elected legislators should, instead, put their heads together and bring about progressive laws and policies that will protect and strengthen our society against the onslaught of influx,” Ka Synjuk Ka Khlieh Nongsynshar stated.
The group also pointed out that the tourism sector in Sohra was moving in the right direction and legislators of the State should ensure that the development of this sector is not compromised at all since this is the only means of sustainable livelihood for the people of Sohra.