Former MLA and Mawlai Mawroh resident John Leslee K Sangma has sharply criticised the recently concluded Cherry Blossom Festival held at Polo Grounds in Shillong, describing it as an “extremely insensitive and disrespectful act” towards residents living in and around the 3–4 km radius. The two-day music event, held on Friday and Saturday, reportedly continued well past midnight, generating loud music and fireworks that locals said shattered the peace.
Sangma stated that although he supports tourism and economic activity, the format and execution of the festival ignored community welfare, health, and statutory noise regulations. Highlighting his personal experience, he said that residents were forced to sacrifice sleep and peace over two nights due to excessively high decibel levels.
He also brought attention to Ganesh Das Hospital, located only about 2 km from the venue, where pregnant women, newborn babies, and other patients might have been severely affected due to the noise. According to him, the event displayed the government’s habitual disregard for its own rules, especially concerning night-time noise restrictions mandated under Indian law and linked to the Right to Life and Peace under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Sangma criticised the venue choice as well, noting that Polo Grounds already struggle with traffic congestion and poorly planned crowd management. Though he identified himself as a music fan, he emphasised that tourism promotion cannot justify public inconvenience, health risk, or rights violations.
He further stated that he will file a formal complaint with the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board and demanded a public apology from both the Chief Minister and the Tourism Minister for the distress caused to residents.
