The Meghalaya High Court has revealed that the state has the worst performance in compensatory afforestation, raising concerns about environmental restoration efforts following large-scale deforestation projects, particularly in the Lawsohtun area. Paul made this argument before the division bench of Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh that when the Central government has authorized deforestation for the Shillong Peak Ropeway Cable Car Project and such activity has been carried out, there should be proper compensatory afforestation in the vicinity of the project and not in any distant place. The court found that deforestation activities were legally conducted with proper permissions from the Central government for the tourism department’s cable car project at Raid Laban Reserve Forests. However, the petitioner argues that adequate environmental compensation has not been provided.
Advocate General A Kumar acknowledged the government’s willingness to undertake afforestation work. The court has commissioned the Advocate General and the petitioner’s counsel to jointly visit the ropeway project site to assess the feasibility of compensatory afforestation. The state government is responsible for arranging logistics for the visit. The joint report will guide the court’s future directions on ecological restoration. The case is scheduled for a hearing on August 14, 2025, to review the findings and determine measures to address Meghalaya’s environmental restoration deficit.
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