Meghalaya

The Meghalaya government has assured full support to the Sikh residents of Punjabi Lane, with cabinet minister Sanbor Shullai stating that the state stands with the community amid concerns over their rights and long-standing settlement in Shillong. Shullai gave the assurance during a meeting at Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar, attended by acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, who had sought the state’s backing to safeguard the interests of the Sikh community as long-time residents of Meghalaya. “I can assure you that the government stands with the Sikh community here,” Shullai said, addressing members of the community at the gurdwara. Giani Gargajj is in the Meghalaya capital to take part in religious programmes marking the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru ...

In a major development at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Prof Sumarbin Umdor on Monday tendered his resignation from the post of Pro Vice-Chancellor, Shillong Campus, with immediate effect from the afternoon of December 15. In his resignation letter addressed to Vice-Chancellor Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla, Prof Umdor stated that he has handed over charge to the Senior Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof Fameline K. Marak, in accordance with university norms. Explaining the circumstances leading to his decision, Prof Umdor said that over the past year, during the continued absence of the Vice-Chancellor from the university campus and the state of Meghalaya, the responsibility for the day-to-day functioning of the university rested with him in his capacity as Pro Vice-Chancellor of the main ...

Noting that the work for identification of vending zones in Shillong is satisfactory, the Meghalaya High Court on Monday asked the local municipal board to file a fresh affidavit by January 28. The government seeks to streamline the hawking business in certain areas in the Meghalaya capital, including Laitumkhrah, which is a key commercial cum residential locality. While hearing a PIL, a division bench headed by Chief Justice Soumen Sen took on record an affidavit filed by the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) furnishing details on the status of vending zones in Laitumkhrah, and observed that satisfactory progress has been made in the exercise. According to documents submitted to the court, the Provisional Town Vending Committee examined 43 vendor claims during inspections in November. Of...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma today laid the foundation stone for the construction of a new Meghalaya House Annexe at 9, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Road, New Delhi. The ceremony was held in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong and General Administration Department (GAD) Minister Sosthenes Sohtun. The new complex will be constructed in two phases. The first phase will comprise 24 guest rooms along with a meeting hall and will be built at an estimated cost of ₹ 22 crore. The annexe will come up within the premises of the existing old Meghalaya House complex, originally built in 1971, spread over a 1.99-acre plot. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that Meghalaya House in Delhi must primarily serve the people of the State by ensuring a comfortable and...

Four major stakeholder bodies of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) have jointly demanded the resignation of the Pro Vice Chancellor of the Shillong campus, saying the university is facing a serious administrative breakdown that has affected both academic and official work. In a joint statement issued late on Monday night, the NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU), NEHU Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA), NEHU Non-Teaching Staff Association (NEHUNSA), and the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) NEHU unit said the present situation at the university reflects “complete administrative paralysis”. The groups alleged that Pro Vice Chancellor S. Umdor has failed to implement assurances that were earlier given by representatives of the Union Ministry of Education in the presence of NEHU Executive Council members....

Former Meghalaya Cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh has warned the government about initiating railway projects in Khasi and Jaintia Hills without appropriate safety measures to combat illegal immigration. He emphasized the need to address concerns raised by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) regarding these plans, labeling the issue as "long-standing and highly sensitive." Lyngdoh expressed disappointment over the central government's lack of clarity on the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), noting the unresolved status of a significant resolution from the state Assembly for several years. Despite the delay in ILP implementation, he suggested that the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) could be strengthened with enhanced provisions to effectively tackle illeg...

The Meghalaya government is enhancing the operational capabilities of its police and security forces to effectively address modern urban security challenges through realistic and scalable training programs. To facilitate this initiative, the state government has approved the establishment of two advanced training facilities located in East Khasi Hills and South Garo Hills. A significant component of this effort is the creation of an urban warfare training facility at Mawiong, situated approximately 20 km from Shillong. This facility aims to equip personnel with a comprehensive range of skills necessary for urban operations, including basic close-quarter battle techniques and more sophisticated operations like clearing multi-storey buildings, conducting hostage rescue missions, brea...

Deficit school teachers under the banner of the Khasi Jaintia Deficit School Teachers’ Association (KJDSTA) held a rally at Malki Ground, Shillong, on Monday and later marched to the Chief Minister’s Office at the Main Secretariat, demanding immediate enhancement of Dearness Allowance (DA) at par with government servants and release of long-pending arrears. Following the rally, the teachers submitted an urgent memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma seeking enhancement of DA from the existing 43 per cent to 51 per cent, in line with prevailing rates applicable to government employees. According to the association, the delay in revising DA has caused severe financial hardship and mental distress to thousands of deficit teachers across the state. As protesters gathered ne...

In an effort to control growing plastic pollution at its most visited natural attractions, the Meghalaya government has introduced a refundable “green deposit” scheme for tourists entering selected eco-tourism destinations in the state. The scheme was rolled out on Sunday and will apply to high-footfall locations such as Cherrapunjee, Dawki and the Living Root Bridges. These areas have witnessed a sharp rise in tourist numbers in recent years, which has also led to an increase in plastic waste, officials said. Under the new initiative, tourists carrying plastic items such as bottles, bags, food wrappers and packaged materials into notified areas will be required to pay a refundable deposit of ₹100 at designated entry points. The amount will be returned when visitors deposit or hand ove...

Tourists carrying plastic bottles or bags into some of Meghalaya’s most popular eco-tourism destinations will have to pay a refundable “green deposit”, with the state government on Sunday rolling out a scheme to curb plastic pollution in high-footfall natural sites, officials said. The Green Deposit scheme has been introduced at destinations such as Cherrapunjee, Dawki and the Living Root Bridges, where a surge in tourist numbers has led to rising plastic waste, posing threats to rivers, forests and fragile ecosystems, they said. Under the initiative, visitors entering notified areas with plastic items, including bottles and wrappers, will be required to pay a refundable deposit of Rs 100. The amount will be returned when tourists dispose of or return their plastic waste at designated ...