Guwahati: The Meghalaya government has decided to drop Lumpongdeng Island from the proposed five-star resort project at Umiam, following sustained opposition from local groups and stakeholders in Ri Bhoi district.
The agreement with Umiam Hotel Pvt Ltd, associated with the Taj group, will be revised to reflect the change, officials said.
The decision was taken after a meeting between government representatives and the Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong, a collective of traditional village heads. Authorities acknowledged concerns raised by residents over the inclusion of the island in the project and opted to withdraw it to prevent further unrest.
Officials clarified that while Lumpongdeng Island will no longer be part of the development plan, the larger tourism project will continue at the existing Umiam Orchid Lake Resort site. The resort will be developed on around 30 acres where infrastructure already exists, without expanding into ecologically or culturally sensitive areas.
The government also communicated its decision to protesting groups, including civil society organisations that had been agitating against the project, with one group staging a hunger strike for nearly two weeks demanding exclusion of the island.
Authorities maintained that the project was originally conceived to promote tourism without permanent construction on Lumpongdeng Island, focusing instead on low-impact visitor experiences. However, given sustained public concern, the government decided to fully exclude the island component.
Officials said the broader objective remains to attract reputed hospitality investment to generate employment and strengthen the local economy, particularly in a state with limited government job opportunities.
Responding to criticism that the move amounted to a policy reversal, the government said the decision was taken in deference to public sentiment rather than under pressure. It also noted that differing political reactions were expected, especially in the run-up to the Shillong parliamentary by-election.
With the revision, the project will now be confined to the existing resort area, while Lumpongdeng Island will remain outside the scope of commercial tourism development.