Meghalaya

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report for the financial year ending March 31, 2020, has flagged irregularities in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) recruitment process. The report revealed that the Council made eight direct appointments to various posts without following recruitment rules, issuing advertisements, or conducting competitive examinations. The report, tabled on Wednesday during the Council’s budget session, cited the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council Service Rules, 1961, which govern staff appointments and promotions. According to Rule 3 of these service rules, recruitment for all classes of services and staff must be conducted through advertisements, followed by competitive exams, oral examinations, or interviews. However, af...

As part of efforts to ease congestion in the state capital, the Cabinet on Wednesday approved the relocation of the Police Reserve to Tynring, within the New Shillong Township. A 50-acre site has been earmarked for the new Police Reserve, which will also serve as a corridor between the township’s administrative and knowledge zones. Announcing the decision, Cabinet Minister and MDA 2.0 Spokesperson Paul Lyngdoh described the relocation as a crucial step in Shillong’s urban planning and decongestion efforts. “This move will not only help decongest the state capital but also create space for further urban development,” Lyngdoh stated. With the Cabinet’s approval, the government will immediately begin work on establishing the new Police Reserve. Lyngdoh emphasised that relocating the fa...

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report for the year ending March 31, 2020, has unearthed financial lapses in the KHADC including an irregular payment of Rs 1.50 crore by the Council for consultancy services. It has also identified systemic deficiencies and a lack of internal controls in the collection of Professional Tax by the KHADC. The report was presented on the first day of the council’s budget session on Wednesday. The report recommended an investigation into the selection process of M/s TA Consultancy Services and the individuals responsible for the payment, particularly since the work was carried out by the council’s technical branch. According to the CAG, M/s TA Consultancy Services, Shillong, submitted an application on October 10, 2018, offering consult...

Meghalaya hosted the 7th Act East Business Show in Shillong, bringing together dignitaries from 13 countries and provinces to boost trade and economic ties between BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) and ASEAN nations. The event focused on technology, agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism, positioning Meghalaya as a key economic hub in the Northeast. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma emphasized the state's commitment to attracting investments and fostering partnerships, aligning with Meghalaya’s vision of achieving a $10 billion economy. Highlighting policy reforms, infrastructure development, entrepreneurship promotion, and grassroots economic networks, Sangma stressed their crucial role in reshaping the state’s economic roadmap. He also underscored India’s proactive approach i...

More than 1.92 lakh metric tonnes of illegal coal have been detected in four districts of Meghalaya during an aerial survey, casting doubts on the state government’s claim of having cracked down on illegal coal mining and transportation. Justice (retired) BP Katakey, who heads a committee appointed by the High Court of Meghalaya, told media persons on Tuesday that an area of about 740 sq. km was surveyed aerially based on the coordinates of the inventoried coal found earlier. He said the aerial survey report has been submitted, and the purpose behind the exercise was to locate coal other than the inventoried quantity shifted to the designated depots of Coal India Limited (CIL). The coal found in the East Jaintia, South West Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, and South Garo Hills distric...

Mawrah Village in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district has won the Winner Award at the 4th Water Sustainability Award (National Award) 2024-25 for its community-based water management initiative. The award, organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in partnership with UNDP, the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS), and the Department of Water Resources, was presented at Jacranda Hall, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Mawrah Reservoir Project won in the category “Excellence in Participatory Water Management for Enhancing Water Management through Community Participation.” The initiative, led by the Soil & Water Conservation Department, Meghalaya, is the first project from the state to receive national recognition for community-driven water resource management. The awa...

Meghalaya’s wait for more than 24 years for a permanent Assembly building is expected to end soon. The construction of the Assembly building at New Shillong Township is almost complete. The dome on the central part of the building was erected recently and the only external work left is the placing of a minar (turret) above it. An official said the turret, designed and constructed elsewhere in India, will reach Shillong on Tuesday. “The minar will be erected by the end of April,” he said. While the structural work is more or less completed, the focus is shifting to the interior work of the building. It was learnt that a New Delhi-based company has been selected to execute the interior work, which is expected to begin soon. Assembly Speaker, Thomas A Sangma on Monday inspected and cha...