Meghalaya

Shillong’s first modern shopping mall, located in Polo, is all set for its grand inauguration, with the state government considering a tentative launch date in January. According to sources, the construction of the mall is fully complete. While the inauguration is tentatively scheduled for January 21, official confirmation is awaited. Built by Badri Rai Company at an estimated cost of Rs 85 crore, the six-storey mall spans a total built-up area of 1.5 lakh square feet. It features 90 shops, mechanised car parking facilities, 12 escalators, five lifts, a food court, EV  charging stations, office spaces on the fifth and sixth floors, and a dedicated kids’ zone, making it a significant addition to the state capital’s urban infrastructure.The state government will allocate shop spaces...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma emphasized the need to address logistical challenges to unlock the agricultural potential of Northeast India. Speaking at ICAR’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, Sangma highlighted the region's capacity to become a hub for organic products like turmeric, ginger, honey, and mushrooms but cited cold storage and infrastructure gaps as barriers to growth. While Meghalayan products such as pineapples and spices have reached European and UAE markets, Sangma pointed to bud rot disease in arecanut plantations as a critical issue. He called for enhanced collaboration between ICAR and state agencies to address such agricultural challenges. The CM also advocated for greater autonomy for Krishi Vigyan Kendras and cluster-based approaches to crop production. ...

The World Bank has approved a $35 million project to support over 5 lakh adolescents in Meghalaya by addressing key challenges in education, health and skill development. The initiative titled the Meghalaya Multisectoral Project for Adolescent Wellbeing, Empowerment, and Resilience (MPOWER), aims to reduce school and dropout rates, improve learning outcomes, prepare young people for employment opportunities. The project is aimed at strengthening learning outcomes for adolescents in grades 6-12, by closing gaps in students’ reading and mathematics skills. To reduce dropout rates, the project will equip students with life skills, mental health awareness and provide guidance on career choices. Special focus will be on reaching student dropouts and providing them with the same support.The ...

Troops of Border Security Force (BSF) Meghalaya seized various contraband items worth more than Rs 31 lakh along the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya. The items included garlic, cattle, sugar, blanket, tea, energy drink and 02 Mahindra pickup vehicle used for carrying smuggled items along the India-Bangladesh border.

The President of India  Droupadi Murmu will visit Meghalaya on January 9. On January 9, the President will grace the golden jubilee celebration of the ICAR Research Complex for ​the North-Eastern Hill Region at Umiam, Meghalaya. Murmu, who will be accompanied by Union Agriculture Minister. She will also meet Governor and Chief Minister. From January 10 and 11, a cabinet retreat will be held at Sohra as well.

The Expert Committee on State Reservation Policy is in the process of compiling its report, Meghalaya Chief Secretary Donald P Wahlang said on Tuesday.“I am not privy to any information to know how long the committee will take to complete the report,” he said. He also said that the committee had a meeting last week in Delhi to discuss and deliberate on the findings of their tour across Meghalaya. Wahlang said the committee, which has already held meetings in Shillong, Jowai and Garo Hills, is mandated to review the state reservation policy by obtaining the views of all stakeholders. The committee is headed by Justice (retd) Mool Chand Garg as the chairman with Justice (retd) Dr Satish Chandra, Prof DV Kumar, Prof Chander Shekhar and Prof Subhadip Mukherjee as members. The 1972 job rese...

Meghalaya Chief Secretary DP Wahlang is scheduled to meet with the Secretary and Additional Secretary in charge of higher education next week to address the ongoing turmoil at North Eastern Hill University (NEHU). The meeting, set for January 13, comes in response to student protests demanding the removal of NEHU Vice Chancellor PS Shukla, who is accused of administrative irregularities. A two-member committee appointed by the Ministry of Education has completed its investigation into the allegations, but the findings have not been made public. Wahlang, speaking on Tuesday, stated, "I will brief the new higher education secretary and advise on necessary actions for NEHU. We hope to see a breakthrough soon."Although NEHU operates as a central university under federal jurisdiction, the s...

In a tragic incident, a fatal altercation between two individuals resulted in the death of one Jaha Uddin at Tura Bazar, Meghalaya, on Tuesday. At approximately 11:32 AM, the Tura Police Control Room (PCR) received information about a fight taking place in the bustling marketplace. A police team was immediately dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, the officers discovered that Minurul Islam (24), a resident of Hajirhat, Sukchar, South Salmara, Assam, had allegedly attacked his uncle, (Late) Jaha Uddin, with a dao (a traditional machete-like weapon) at the Super Market Ground around 11:25 AM. The victim, originally from Singimari, Assam, was staying in a rented house at Risipara, Tura. Following the assault, Jaha Uddin sustained critical injuries and was rushed to Tura Civil Hospital (TCH...

Troops of BSF Meghalaya successfully thwarted a smuggling attempt on January 6, seizing contraband items worth Rs 34.15 lakh. The confiscated items included sugar, liquor, blankets, garlic, cosmetic, medicine, all intended for illegal smuggling into Bangladesh.Based on specific intelligence inputs, troops of BSF Meghalaya launched special operations in surrounding area of village Muktapur and Lynghat under West Jaintia Hills. During the operation, the troops detected unidentified individuals approaching the border to collect smuggled goods. When challenged, the smugglers fled into the forest taking advantage of darkness. A thorough search of the area resulted in discovery and seizure of concealed contrabands. The confiscated goods were subsequently handed over to the concern Custom...