By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 12: Executive Member in-charge of Law & Legal Matters and Town Committee in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, Deity H Majaw on Thursday opposed the proposed construction of an intermediate lane road from Malki to Laitkor, warning that the project could cause serious environmental and social damage.
In a letter to Executive Engineer, PWD (Roads), Shillong Central Division, S Lytep, Majaw placed on record her objection. She acknowledged that reducing traffic congestion in Shillong is important but said the proposed road alignment through the Malki Forest would harm the area’s ecological balance.
The PWD had proposed the “construction of intermediate lane road from Malki to Laitkor (near Woodland Nursing School), including a link road connecting Lumpyngngad,” covering a length of 4.586 kilometres. According to the department, the project aims to ease traffic congestion in Shillong, especially in the Nongthymmai-Laitumkhrah-Dhankheti areas, and contribute to the socio-economic development of the region.
In an earlier letter to the Rangbah Shnong of Malki, the PWD Executive Engineer stated that the department had been surveying possible locations for new road connections due to the rising traffic volume in the city and its outskirts. The department had sought a No Objection Certificate to take up the project for the benefit of the public.
However, Majaw said the Malki Forest is one of the few remaining green lungs in Shillong’s urban area. She noted that the forest is widely used by joggers, hikers, students, senior citizens and nature lovers, and it also plays an important role in maintaining air quality and regulating temperature in nearby localities.
She pointed out that Shillong’s air quality has worsened over the years due to increasing construction, vehicle emissions and loss of tree cover. In such a situation, she said, cutting through the forest would further damage the environment at a time when sustainability should be a priority.
Raising security concerns, Majaw said although the existing stretch from Nongshiliang to Lumbalang Malki has been in place for years, incidents of unlawful and anti-social activities have been reported inside the forest despite monitoring by the Forest Department. A new road, she cautioned, would increase access and make surveillance more difficult, posing risks to residents and the forest area.
She further stated that the Malki Forest is rich in flora and fauna and is home to various species of birds and animals, serving as a refuge for displaced wildlife. Road construction, she warned, would disturb wildlife movement, fragment habitats and increase the chances of human-wildlife conflict.
Majaw recalled past forest fire incidents that caused significant environmental damage and affected nearby residents. She said greater human interference could increase the risk of such incidents in the future.
Another key concern highlighted was over the forest’s catchment areas, which supply potable drinking water to many residents of Shillong. She stressed that these water sources are important in addressing the city’s recurring water shortages and should be protected.
She urged the PWD to reconsider and withdraw the plan and instead look for alternative routes that would not affect the forest or compromise public safety.
