Raphael Warjri

The Green-Tech Foundation on Wednesday staged a protest outside the Secretariat, demanding that the State Government halt the proposed leasing of Lumpongdeng Island in Umiam Lake for the Taj Umiam Resort and Spa project.

According to reports, security was tightened at the Secretariat gate, with police personnel deployed under the supervision of magistrates. Mild lathi action was reportedly used to disperse or control the gathering protesters.

A day prior to the demonstration, the Foundation had organised a sit-in protest at Lumpongdeng Island, reiterating its opposition to the inclusion of the island in the proposed lease agreement for the resort project.

Foundation Chairman Bah H. Bansiewdor Nonglang stated that the organisation was preparing to launch an indefinite hunger strike, alleging that the government had not responded to their concerns.

He further stated that the Foundation had been consistently urging the government to suspend its plans to carry out construction activities on the island, warning that such development could have adverse impacts on the lake’s ecosystem and power generation.

The Chairman also alleged that the government had misled the public, claiming that tree felling activities on the island had already begun despite assurances to the contrary.