Shillong: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has urged the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to stop the proposed ecotourism project in Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary in Meghalaya‘s Ri-Bhoi.
In a letter to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, the HYC expressed deep concern over the Rs 23.70 crore project being implemented by the Eco-Development Society of Meghalaya.
The project reportedly includes the development of tourist dwelling places, glass skywalks, and even a water-sports arena within the sanctuary.
The Council highlighted the ecological significance of the Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1981, emphasizing its pristine value and its role as a vital habitat for a rich biodiversity.
HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem stated that the sanctuary is home to over 50 species of mammals, including the Clouded Leopard, Leopard, Hoolock gibbon, Elephant, and Gaur, as well as 25 species of reptiles and numerous endangered fish and bird species.
The Council pointed out that several species within Meghalaya have been recorded for the first time within this area.
The HYC underscored that National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries are legally protected areas crucial for biodiversity conservation and that any activities within them should only be considered under “most exceptional circumstances,” carefully assessing the potential impact on the area’s flora and fauna.
The HYC argued that the development of “eco-tourism activities” inside the sanctuary does not fall under this category.
Despite the ecological sensitivity of the area, the Eco-Development Society of Meghalaya has floated a tender worth Rs 23.70 crore to develop ecotourism infrastructure inside the sanctuary, the Council stated.
Synrem expressed deep concern that these developments would severely disrupt the sanctuary’s delicate ecosystem and the wildlife that depends on it for survival.
The HYC further raised concerns regarding the lack of mandatory approvals. Citing Section 29 and the provison under Section 33 (a) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the HYC stated that prior approval from the State Board for Wildlife and the Standing Committee of the NBWL is required for any diversion of land or construction of commercial tourist facilities within a sanctuary.
Additionally, referencing a 2002 Supreme Court directive, the HYC asserted that such proposals also necessitate the Supreme Court’s approval based on the NBWL’s recommendation. The Council stated that, to their knowledge, no such approvals have been obtained for the Nongkhyllem project.
The HYC warned that the proposed tourism activities would severely impact the animals, birds, reptiles, and insects that rely on the sanctuary as a refuge, potentially leading to their death or displacement.
They fear that the project could decimate the biodiversity of an area recognized as a global hotspot under the Eastern Himalayan Endemic Bird Area.
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The HYC urgently appealed to the Additional Director General of Forests (Wildlife) to immediately halt the “Eco Tourism Works” project and to withhold any permissions for tourism activities within and around the Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary.
