Govt’s tourism push to ensure protection of water bodies

SHILLONG, Oct 20: The state government has maintained that its impetus to promotion of tourism will be done with an eye on protection of the water bodies and care for the environment.
“You will be aware that the High Court is on our doorsteps. You can’t do things which will be questioned by the court at any point of time. So we are fully seized of these concerns,” Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh said on Sunday.
His statement comes in the wake of the Tourism department’s plans to undertake major facelifts in and around Umiam Lake even though the High Court of Meghalaya has put stringent restrictions on construction activities in and around the water body.
“We would like to work in a framework where the concern for the environment and for our water bodies is in sync with our push to the tourism sector,” he said.
Talking about the facelift being planned in the Umiam area, Lyngdoh said, “We are in the process of acquiring around 300 acres of land from MeECL through the Power department. Also the Lum Nehru Park, which is with the Forest department, is being transferred to the Tourism department.”
“The entire area in and around Umiam Lake will become a major tourist hub once all the facelift work is completed,” he added.