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The Meghalaya Pradesh Mahila Congress (MPMC) on Thursday staged a protest against the continued rise in petrol and diesel prices, alleging that the escalating fuel costs have imposed a severe financial burden on the common people, particularly economically weaker sections of society. Led by its president, Joplyn Scott Shylla, members of the organisation expressed concern over the impact of rising fuel prices on households across the state. Addressing the gathering, the Mahila Congress leaders said that every increase in the prices of petrol and diesel has a cascading effect on the economy, resulting in higher transportation costs and a corresponding rise in the prices of essential commodities. The MPMC president argued that the burden is being borne disproportionately by daily wa...

The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) has unanimously nominated James P K Sangma as its common candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election from Meghalaya, scheduled to be held on June 18.The decision was taken during a meeting of leaders of the alliance's constituent parties, where discussions focused on selecting a candidate for the state's lone seat in the Upper House of Parliament.According to resolutions adopted at the meeting, representatives of all parties were briefed on the election process and the position of the National People's Party (NPP) by the party's national and state leadership.During the deliberations, constituent parties proposed names from their respective organisations and expressed their willingness to have their nominees considered for the alliance's official...

The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) has unanimously nominated National People's Party (NPP) leader James K Sangma as its common candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election in Meghalaya, scheduled for June 18.The decision was taken at a meeting of leaders of the alliance's constituent parties, where discussions centred on the nomination and selection of a candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from the state.Reacting to his nomination, James said: "I am deeply humbled by the decision of the NPP and our alliance partners in the MDA to back my candidature as the common candidate for the post of Rajya Sabha MP."The alliance also discussed the forthcoming by-election to the Shillong Parliamentary constituency. The MDA agreed that constituent parties would be free to take their own sta...

In a major breakthrough towards easing the border tension at Lapangap, Meghalaya and Assam have reached a consensus on border demarcation solely for cultivation purpose. Negotiations on the final border alignment in the disputed region will be taken forward by an appropriate state-level committee. The consensus – following a recent meeting between Meghalaya and Assam chief ministers in Guwahati – was reached during a high-level meeting at the Assam Police Camp on Tuesday. Officials said the talks built on “the initiative taken at the highest level by the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, who recently held discussions with the Chief Minister of Assam to find an amicable and peaceful resolution to the issues arising in the areas.” Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar led Meghalaya...

In the wake of liquor retailers’ concern over reduced profit margins due to the newly introduced Integrated Excise Management System (IEMS), the state government has defended the system as “aligned with modernisation drives across the country. Excise reforms measures, including IEMS, are aimed at transparency, revenue protection, and aligning with national regulatory trends, according to an official statement issued by the Excise, Registration, Taxation & Stamps department on Tuesday. Taking note of statements by certain associations of liquor retailers regarding IEMS and rationalisation of retailer margins, the department said, “Several claims being circulated are selective, incomplete and fail to present the larger public interest, fiscal realities and national regulatory cont...

In a major push to overhaul rural medical infrastructure, the Health Department of West Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya has launched a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen primary healthcare delivery. On Tuesday, top health officials convened a high-level District-Level Re-Orientation Programme aimed at bridging existing operational gaps and elevating healthcare outcomes across the region. The intensive session brought together Medical Officers and Mid-Level Health Providers stationed at various Health and Wellness Centres. The primary focus of the initiative centers on enhancing the implementation of the Comprehensive Primary Health Care framework through robust collaboration, continuous capacity building, and localized strategies. During the review, participants meticulously evaluated k...

The Jaintia Coal Owners, Miners, Suppliers and Workers Association (JCOMSWA) has issued a formal appeal to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, highlighting a deepening humanitarian crisis in East and West Jaintia Hills. In a detailed memorandum, the association called for immediate government intervention to support thousands of families whose livelihoods were decimated by the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) 2014 ban on coal mining. For decades, coal served as the economic backbone of the region, sustaining not just miners, but also transporters, traders, and small business owners. JCOMSWA emphasizes that the prolonged restriction has pushed the community into a cycle of poverty, unemployment, and social distress. The organization noted that the lack of viable alternatives has f...

The Jaintia National Council (JNC) on Thursday threatened to march to the Meghalaya Secretariat if the state government fails to respond by May 15 to its objections against what it called an “illegal” Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report submitted by Shree Cement. In a statement, the JNC expressed serious concern and deep disappointment over the government’s “complete silence” since the council submitted written objections on April 30, 2026, to the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, SEIAA Meghalaya, and the MoEF&CC Regional Office in Shillong. The JNC said the EIA report for the proposed project in East Jaintia Hills “doesn’t match with the State of Meghalaya” and highlighted three violations it said were “admitted and printed in the proponent’s own submitt...

The Jaintia National Council (JNC) Western Zone on Friday served an ultimatum of two months to the Public Health Engineering department to address the issue of alleged improper implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in West Jaintia Hills district. A delegation led by the JNC Western Zone president Hamehi Bamon met the department’s executive engineer of the Electricals Division and the EE of the Civil Division to flag their concern on the issue. Bamon stated that following verbal complaints from residents, it found that many villages had completed water tanks and pipelines, but the project had stalled without household supply. “This situation has caused significant frustration among the residents and the council, as many constructions have been left in disrepair without a functioni...