By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 15: North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum on Wednesday strongly opposed the proposed Rs 300–Rs 330 crore luxury resort and spa project at Umiam, raising serious concerns over its links to Badri Rai and Company—a firm previously implicated in two major construction failures in Meghalaya.
Extending support to H. Bansiewdor Nonglang, chairman of the Green-Tech Foundation Meghalaya, who is on an indefinite hunger strike at Malki Ground, Nongrum alleged that certain directors and promoters of Umiam Hotels Pvt. Ltd. have direct connections to Badri Rai and Company. The firm was involved in the construction of the Assembly Building, where a dome collapse occurred in 2022, and the PA Sangma Stadium in Tura, where a boundary wall collapsed in June 2024.
Citing RTI information obtained by the Green-Tech Foundation, the MLA claimed that the ownership and directorship of Umiam Hotels Pvt. Ltd. are linked to individuals associated with these controversial projects. He questioned the credibility and track record of the entities involved and demanded greater scrutiny before the project proceeds.
Nongrum also highlighted concerns over Lumpongdeng Island, which has been leased to the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) for 60 years. According to details he had raised in the last Assembly budget session, IHCL is expected to contribute Rs 4.47 crore to the state exchequer in the first year, Rs 7.423 crore within five years, and Rs 9.46 crore within ten years. Over the full lease period, the total projected contribution stands at Rs 1,981.65 crore.
However, the MLA questioned whether such financial returns justify “land alienation,” noting that around 63 to 66 acres—equivalent to multiple football fields—have been allocated for the project.
“The acquisition of land was initially for a different purpose, but it is now being diverted,” Nongrum alleged. As a public representative, he said he felt compelled to stand with those protesting.
He urged the government to scrap the project, warning that it could adversely affect the environment and pose risks for future generations. Nongrum emphasised the need to preserve Lumpongdeng Island in its natural state and called on the public to support efforts to protect indigenous land rights.
The MLA recalled that he had raised the issue of Lumpongdeng Island in the Assembly in 2024, but alleged that the government had failed to act at that time.
