Meghalaya

Revenue Minister Lahkmen Rymbui has decided to call convene a meeting in the second week of December to determine the course of action for evicting unauthorized occupants from the Maxweltn Estate and Mahadev Khola. He announced this after a meeting held with the delegation of the Khasi Students Union (KSU) on Thursday. "I have to call a meeting of the revenue department and the deputy commissioner (revenue) to understand the full fact (of the matter). When there is a judgment in favour of the government that this land (at Maxwelton Estate) belongs to the government then why not the government takes position of it and how to evict these so-called these illegal settlers," Rymbui told reporters. "This issue will be discussed at length and necessary action will be done and why inaction is ...

The Meghalaya Cabinet has approved a series of major development proposals aimed at boosting tourism, improving road and air connectivity, and expanding household electrification across the state. The decisions, taken on Wednesday, reflect the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen infrastructure and uplift underserved regions. A key approval involves the procurement of land to develop tourism facilities at Umpardong, Umden in Ri Bhoi district—widely known as the Silk Village. The project seeks to enhance visitor amenities in the popular weaving hub, where local communities have long demanded better lodges, rest facilities, and tourist support infrastructure. To further support accessibility, the Cabinet sanctioned ₹50 crore for constructing the road from Nongpoh to Umden, addre...

In a bid to tighten security and enhance transparency in government recruitment, the East Jaintia Hills District Administration on Thursday announced that it is exploring measures such as installing CCTVs, enforcing temporary internet shutdowns and deploying mobile signal jammers during District Selection Committee (DSC) examinations.The move comes after a high-level consultative meeting chaired by district officials and attended by Khliehriat MLA Kyrmen Shylla, Sutnga–Saipung MLA Santa Mary Shylla, MDCs, DSC members, legal experts, school principals and other stakeholders. The meeting was convened to address concerns over recruitment procedures, following a letter submitted by R. Siangshai and advocate K. Ksoo highlighting issues related to transparency.The move comes after a high-lev...

Activist Angela Rangad has sharply criticised the state administration over its ongoing crackdown on hawkers and mobile vendors in the city, calling the actions “illegal, anti-poor, and a deliberate abuse of power.” Speaking to reporters, Rangad accused authorities of violating the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act and disregarding the very committee meant to oversee its implementation. “The city of Shillong and the people in power do not want to follow the law,” she said. “They are anti-poor and anti-people who are simply trying to make an honest living. The income disparity in this town is like nowhere else.” Rangad, a member of the Progressive Temporary Booth Committee (PTBC) and long-time campaigner for hawkers’ rights, said the recent e...

Inspection by Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) officials on Thursday left several tea, snack and fruit vendors in Khyndailad devastated after their goods were reportedly seized, forcing them to lose an entire day’s earnings. Many women vendors, visibly distressed, said their perishable items were spoiled and pleaded with the authorities for compassion, stressing that vending is their only source of livelihood. The matter quickly drew the attention of VPP MLA Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, who visited the spot and strongly condemned the action. In an interview at the site, he said, “We feel that this is too much, because they are not disturbing anyone since they are mobile vendors. Had it been other vendors, we would not have come. We are here to tell the Municipal authorities that they shoul...

The State Cabinet has approved the establishment of a teacher training academy as an autonomous society under the Directorate of Education, Research and Training, aimed at enhancing teacher education, capacity building, and professional development. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said on Wednesday that the Meghalaya Teacher Training Academy will focus on providing specialised training to teachers across various levels. It will ensure professionals oversee the training process, allowing for more effective and targeted capacity building.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday said the state cabinet has approved a standard operating procedure (SOP) to regulate the use of beacons, flashers, sirens, tinted glasses and similar equipment in official vehicles. He said the SOP will clearly outline which officials are authorised to use sirens and beacons and who may use tinted glasses or flashers. The cabinet agreed on the need for strict regulation to prevent misuse. According to officials, the proposal was thoroughly discussed in the Cabinet meeting, where members expressed a strong consensus on the need for a robust mechanism to prevent misuse of these vehicle features. The move is intended to bring uniformity, accountability, and transparency to the use of special equipment in government vehicles. The gov...

Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma, today, attended the Attestation Parade of the 6th Batch of Agniveers at the Assam Regimental Centre, Happy Valley. The event marked the culmination of 31 weeks of rigorous military training and the formal induction of young recruits into the Indian Army. A total of 783 trainees participated in the ceremony, including 274 Agniveers and 509 Territorial Army recruits who commenced training on 1 May 2025. The Agniveer batch comprised Naga/Kuki (08), Mizo/Lushai (02), Assamese/Kachari (20), Arunachali (18), and other recruits from across the North East Region (226), showcasing the region’s rich and diverse martial heritage.The Chief Minister reviewed the parade, which included the march-past, presentation of Regimental Colours, trooping of the National Flag an...

North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) has enforced a new set of strict traffic safety rules inside its Shillong campus following a recent accident that left two first-semester students injured and triggered widespread concern among students, parents, and faculty. The university administration issued the order on November 24, announcing a maximum speed limit of 30 kmph for all vehicles and making helmet use compulsory for riders of two-wheelers and even cyclists. The move comes barely a week after a drunk security guard drove an old university vehicle into two students near the main campus gate. The incident, which was caught on CCTV, quickly sparked outrage over lax traffic monitoring and inadequate enforcement of safety measures within the university. Authorities said the fresh rule...

ANTF raided Lum Survey, a known drug hotspot in Shillong, detaining several youth. One user revealed the area's main supplier is a man called Salim, who also sells drugs at Punjabi Lane. He admitted he was on his way to buy "half a CC" when police arrived. Lum Survey has become a major injection point. ANTF continues its investigation to track down the key peddler and others involved.