Meghalaya

The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) has lodged formal complaints against the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of East Jaintia Hills district, accusing them of mishandling a public hearing on a proposed cement plant in Meghalaya. The environmental public hearing for Meghatop Cement Pvt. Ltd.'s integrated plant, held on October 18 in Wahiejer village, reportedly descended into chaos when armed supporters allegedly blocked protesters from attending the event. According to HITO, affected citizens were barred from entry and faced physical attacks from lathi-wielding supporters. In its complaints to the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, and the Human Rights Commission, HITO criticized the district officials for their "inefficiencies and de...

The Meghalaya education department has mandated that all Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) teachers must mark their attendance daily using the Teacher Information Management System (TIMS) application, following the ongoing agitation over salary hikes. Over 13,000 SSA teachers in the state have launched an indefinite protest, demanding a 100 percent salary increase. In response, SSA State Project Director Swapnil Tembe stressed the importance of daily attendance, noting that compliance has been unsatisfactory. "The TIMS app ensures proper teacher registration and attendance tracking across districts, and it must be used actively to monitor their presence," Tembe stated. Last week, Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma assured the protesting teachers that the state government is working on a...

In response to criticism of Meghalaya's festival expenditure, the state administration stated on Thursday that it is investing in the tourism sector rather than spending it. Tourism is expanding rapidly, with GST collections increasing by the day.  Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh clarified that wasted spending is an investment in tourism. Lyngdoh highlighted the department's progress, stating that the Cherry Blossom Festival would take place on November 15 and 16, featuring notable international singers like as Akon, Boney M, Lucas, other rappers, as well as state and local performers.  Meghalaya will introduce MMA for the first time, including competitors from Thailand and the Philippines. Lyngdoh noted that the state government is promoting Meghalaya as a top tourist destinat...

A mild earthquake with a magnitude of 3.6 shook the West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya in the early hours of Friday. The tremor occurred at 12:28 a.m. on October 18, according to the National Center for Seismology. The quake's epicentre was pinpointed at 25.47 degrees North latitude and 92.11 degrees East longitude, with a shallow depth of 5 kilometers, which likely contributed to the shaking experienced by locals. While no immediate reports of damage or injuries have been received, local authorities are assessing the situation. Though minor, earthquakes of this magnitude can cause light to moderate tremors in the affected region.

On his first official visit to Shillong, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar toured the IT Park at Mawdiangdiang alongside Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, praising the state's development initiatives. Dhankhar emphasized that achieving developed status goes beyond GDP growth, highlighting the importance of long-term planning and strategic governance under Sangma's leadership. "Development is not just about numbers; it requires time and a solid foundation. Meghalaya, through the '10 Guarantees' under Chief Minister Sangma, is making significant strides toward becoming a developed state," Dhankhar stated. He stressed the need for a rational approach, considering the availability of resources and human capital. The Vice President also pointed out the importance of building essential infrastruct...

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has enforced the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in West Garo Hills ahead of the Gambegre Assembly bypolls, set for November 13. Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer BDR Tiwari confirmed that election preparations are in place to ensure a free and fair election process. Key dates for the bypolls include October 18 for the issuance of the notification, October 25 as the last date for filing nominations, and November 23 for the announcement of results. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has announced that his wife, Mehtab Chandee, will contest the bypolls on behalf of the National People's Party (NPP), following public demand. In response, the Meghalaya All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) has fielded Sadhiarani M Sangma, the lone woman MDC in the G...

In a major anti-smuggling operation, the Border Security Force (BSF) in Meghalaya seized medical accessories worth over ₹1 crore near the international border in East Jaintia Hills on October 13. Based on a tip-off, the 172 Battalion of the BSF conducted a special operation in the border area of Dona, leading to the recovery of Cannula sets intended to be smuggled into Bangladesh. The seized items were later handed over to the Customs office in Badarpur for further legal action. In a separate operation, the BSF rescued 27 cattle from being smuggled into Bangladesh. Acting on specific intelligence, the 4th Battalion of the BSF intercepted the cattle near the international border, thwarting another smuggling attempt.