By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 16: Amid the raging controversy over the proposed Taj Umiam Luxury Resort & Spa project, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday said he was ready to bring out a white paper on the project to address concerns, while declining to comment on whether the Lumpongdeng Island issue has been politicised, stating that it is for the public to judge.
Responding to queries from reporters, the Chief Minister indicated that the government is open to placing details of the project in the public domain through a white paper. He also maintained that the core concern raised by protesters construction on Lumpongdeng Island has already been clarified.
He stated that there will be no construction on Lumpongdeng Island and that the proposed five-star hotel project will instead come up at the existing Orchid Hotel site near Umiam. According to him, this position had been clear from the beginning and has been reiterated multiple times.
On the ongoing protest, including the hunger strike by members of the Green-Tech Foundation, he said the government has been monitoring the health condition of the agitators and has arranged medical assistance at the protest site after some declined to move to hospital.
The Chief Minister added that since the primary concern regarding construction on the island has been addressed, there is no reason for the protest to continue.
He also indicated that the demands appear to have shifted towards scrapping of the memorandum of understanding (MoU), and said the basis for such a demand was not clearly defined.
He further stated that the project is part of a broader tourism strategy involving investments in hotels, homestays, transport, and local enterprises, aimed at generating employment and boosting the state’s economy.
He emphasised that tourism initiatives should be viewed in totality rather than in isolation.
He also acknowledged that concerns had arisen due to lack of clarity and said the government has been responding by providing explanations and engaging with stakeholders.
