Meghalaya

The proposed Byrnihat-Shillong railway project has died a natural death with the Meghalaya government gearing up to return the funds meant for land acquisition under the project to the Ministry of Railways. An official said that the government will around Rs 209.37 crore to the Ministry and the necessary paper works have begun. The funds were placed with the Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi on March 30, 2017 for acquiring land for the railway project in the district. The development comes just days after the government constituted a committee headed by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to discuss the pros and cons of the railway projects in Khasi-Jaintia Hills. It may be mentioned that the pressure groups in the state have not allowed the government to construct railway line even for goods ...

The state government has started the process of returning monies to the Center that were initially allotted for land acquisition connected to the proposed railway project in Khasi Hills, including the Byrnihat-Shillong route, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced on Friday. The action was taken in response to a recent correspondence from the center asking for the reimbursement of funds that were originally approved for the purchase of land in the area for the construction of a railway. The Chief Minister confirmed the development and reaffirmed the state's intention to initiate talks over Meghalaya's future rail connectivity. To look at the several issues of building railway lines in Byrnihat, Shillong, and other areas of the state, an all-party committee is currently bei...

Amid the long-pending demand to implement the Inner Line Permit in Meghalaya, the Centre has asked the state government to respond satisfactorily to a list of queries on the issues flagged. Cabinet Minister and MDA spokesperson, Paul Lyngdoh, said the Centre is not against the ILP idea, but it sought some answers to certain questions. “The challenge in facilitating a system like the ILP lies in Meghalaya being a transit route for Mizoram, Tripura, and certain districts of Assam,” he said on Friday. He said there have been several interactions with the Union Home Ministry, which feels Meghalaya already enjoys protections under the Sixth Schedule, Land Transfer Act, and autonomous district councils that are constitutionally mandated with powers. “However, this is not the end of the ro...

Police on Friday registered a suo motu FIR at Rynjah police station against five top leaders of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) for attempting to forcibly shut down the Director’s Administrative Block at NEIGRIHMS. The five HYC leaders against whom the FIR has been registered are Roy Kupar Synrem (president), Donboklang Kharlyngdoh (vice president), Rhembor G Saibon (general secretary), Issac W Basaiawmoit (secretary), and Enlang Sawian (education secretary). Police filed the suo motu FIR against the five HYC leaders under various sections of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The HYC leaders were picked up by the police when they were exiting the NEIGRIHMS premises following their failed meeting with Director, Nalin Mehta. After examining them and recording their sta...

International EDM heavyweights are set to light up the hills of Meghalaya as Sunburn’s Summer Fest makes its debut in Shillong on May 10, promising a grand fusion of global soundscapes and local vibrancy. Leading the festival lineup are psytrance legends Vini Vici, whose tribal-infused rhythms and electrifying drops are expected to shake the stage. Joining them is Dimitri Vegas, renowned for his high-octane performances and festival anthems, with a special set tailored for Shillong’s debut edition. Adding melodic depth are progressive house giants DubVision and Third Party from the UK, each bringing their signature emotional and energetic sound to the fest’s main stage. “This marks a new beginning for Sunburn,” said Karan Singh, CEO of Sunburn. “Shillong’s musical soul and breathtaking...

The state government has announced the constitution of an all-party committee consisting of recognised and registered political parties to discuss railway connectivity in Meghalaya, prompting the KSU, which has remained firm on its demand for ILP before introducing railways, to respond sharply. According to a notification issued on Wednesday by Chief Secretary Donald P Wahlang, the committee will be chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma or any minister appointed by him. “All political parties are requested to nominate two representatives for the committee. Relevant government departments will also be invited to participate in the deliberations,” Wahlang stated. The committee’s mandate includes examining and identifying solutions for the introduction and construction of railways...

The results of the 2025 Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination conducted by the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBoSE), Tura, will be declared at 11 am on March 5. This was informed by the MBOSE here on Thursday. The result booklet(s) can be downloaded from the board’s official website (www.mbose.in). There will be no display of results at MBoSE office, Tura/Shillong, it said.

Khasi-language film ‘Ha Lyngkha Bneng’ has been selected for the Main Competition at the 47th Moscow International Film Festival (MIFF) 2025, marking a significant achievement for Meghalaya’s regional cinema on the global stage. Filmmaker Pradip Kurbah announced the selection, highlighting the five-year journey of the film, which began gaining attention in 2020 after being showcased at the Asian Project Market in Busan and NFDC India Film Bazaar Co-Production Market. "The journey was not easy. It took two years of filming through different seasons in Sohra, Meghalaya, to capture the beauty and spirit of the land and its people," Kurbah shared. The film, produced through a collaboration between Hello Meghalaya, Pomus New Horizons, Ka Knup Creatives, and Cat N Mouse Entertainment, ...