Meghalaya: Shillong MP welcomes revised Shillong-Silchar corridor plan

Guwahati: Shillong MP Ricky AJ Syngkon on Tuesday said infrastructure development is necessary but must not come at the expense of the environment, particularly in ecologically sensitive areas, and welcomed the revised proposal for the Shillong-Silchar High Speed Corridor.

Syngkon noted that he had earlier written to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change expressing concern over the original plan, which involved acquiring land near the Experimental Botanical Garden under the Botanical Survey of India. The garden is home to around 1,200 plant species, including several indigenous and endangered varieties.

Under the revised design, the planned trumpet interchange near Umiam no longer requires any land from the botanical garden. Syngkon said this change addressed the primary environmental concern raised in his representation and reflected a more responsible approach to infrastructure planning.

The MP emphasized that his letter had highlighted the need to avoid disturbing forest land, agricultural land, natural water sources, and other ecological assets during development projects, stressing that environmental protection must remain a central consideration.

He described the ministry’s response and the adoption of the revised design as a positive step, showing that concerns raised by stakeholders were taken into account. “Development is welcome, but it must proceed with due respect for nature and the protection of ecosystems that have no voice,” Syngkon said.