Meghalaya

The Centre’s decision to exempt uranium and other strategic minerals from mandatory public consultations has triggered strong opposition in Meghalaya, a state that holds some of India’s largest uranium reserves. On September 8, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) issued an Office Memorandum removing the requirement for public hearings under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act for atomic, critical, and strategic minerals. The move has revived long-standing concerns in West Khasi Hills district, where uranium-rich areas like Domiasiat and Wahkaji have been at the centre of controversy for decades. Previous attempts by the Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) to begin mining were abandoned due to sustained public protests over environment...

The Centre's recent Office Memorandum (OM) exempting uranium mining from mandatory public consultations has raised eyebrows in uranium-rich Meghalaya, where past attempts to extract the mineral have repeatedly run into local resistance. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on September 8 issued the OM, which excludes mining of atomic minerals, including uranium, as well as critical and strategic minerals under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act from public hearings. Meghalaya is home to one of the country's largest uranium reserves, particularly in Domiasiat, Wahkaji and adjoining areas of West Khasi Hills district. Meghalaya’s West Khasi Hills district, particularly Domiasiat and Wahkaji, hosts some of the country’s largest uranium depos...

The indefinite strike called by the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association, which had threatened to paralyse travel and tourism across the state, has been put on hold after the state government agreed to emergency-level discussions. On Thursday evening, the association announced suspension of its protest following the intervention of the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, who convened a meeting for Tuesday, September 23. Senior officials from the home, transport, and tourism departments are expected to join the talks, raising hopes for a breakthrough. The association’s principal demand centres on regulating outside vehicles operating at Meghalaya’s popular tourist destinations. According to local drivers, unchecked entry of taxis from neighbouring states—particularly Assam—has...

A major taxi operators' strike that threatened to disrupt tourism across Meghalaya has been temporarily halted after the state government agreed to hold emergency discussions next week. The All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association suspended its indefinite protest on the evening of September 18 following intervention by the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, who scheduled a crucial meeting for Tuesday, September 23, involving home, transport and tourism departments. The association had been demanding restrictions on outside vehicles operating at popular tourist destinations within Meghalaya, arguing that local taxi operators were losing business to competitors from neighbouring states. The protest took a serious turn when Assam authorities began blocking Meghalaya vehicles at int...

The University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), which Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma last year accused of causing flash floods in Guwahati through what he termed “flood jihad,” has been found to be illegally built on forest land without central clearance, a Supreme Court-appointed panel has reported. The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which advises the apex court on forest and environmental matters, said that USTM in Ri-Bhoi district occupies 25 hectares of forest land, of which 13.62 hectares are already under construction. It recommended a cumulative penalty of Rs 150.35 crore and ordered that the encroached land be restored to its natural forest state within a year. The report added that construction activities for the proposed P.A. Sangma Memorial Medical C...

The tourist taxi dispute escalated on Thursday when protestors at Jorabat blocked the vehicle of former Education Minister and NPP legislator Rakkam A Sangma, forcing him to rely on Assam police to continue his journey to Garo Hills. A large crowd from Assam shouted slogans demanding that he return to Meghalaya, with protestors clearly urging his vehicle to turn back. Rakkam shared a video of the confrontation and confirmed he barely managed to get past the blockade with police assistance. The incident occurred amid an ongoing protest by the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association (AKMTTA), which is demanding a ban on Assam tourist taxis operating in Meghalaya's popular tourist destinations. This hardline stance has fuelled resentment on both sides of the border, escalating tensio...

The Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) has officially announced its under-19 men’s squads for the 2025–26 domestic cricket season, setting the stage for the state’s participation in the BCCI’s prestigious Vinoo Mankad Trophy and the Cooch Behar Trophy. The announcement, made on Wednesday, follows a series of selection trials and a close review of players’ past performances. The U-19 side will be led by wicketkeeper-batsman Heiyoomiki Ryngkhlem as captain, with Gaurav Narleng appointed vice-captain. Experienced coach Synrapsing Riahtam will guide the boys through the season, with an emphasis on fitness, discipline, and technical skills. Meghalaya’s immediate focus will be the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, a one-day tournament in which the team has been placed in the Plate Group alongside fellow...

Tour Operator Alan West Kharkongor has filed a petition in the High Court of Meghalaya following the recent strike called by All Meghalaya Khasi Tourist Taxi Association (AMKTTA). Kharkongor's legal counsel, Phuyosa Yobin said they have sought urgent listing of the matter before the court which has agreed to hear the plea either on Friday or Monday. According to Yobin, the petitioner has prayed to the court to issue a writ of mandamus directing the Meghalaya government to ensure that no strike, bandh, or blockade called by the AMKTTA or any other association is permitted to obstruct free movement of tourist taxis within Meghalaya. They also prayed the court to restrain AMKTTA, its members, and affiliates from enforcing the proposed strike or from taking any coercive steps restricting t...

Assam associations barred both commercial and private vehicles from Meghalaya from entering Guwahati, forcing them to return back to Shillong on Thurday morning. Travellers raelling to Guwahati ranted their frustration over the action,  with some of them bound for railway station and airport. A large number of vehicles where seen piled up at Jorabat, as members of different Assam associations stopped the vehicles urging them to turn their car. A traveller from Shillong travelling on his private vehicle narrated his ordeal, stating that he had to drop his family to Kamakhya station for boarding train, however, he was stopped and and told that he can drop his family at Jorabat and they have to take Assam registered taxi or auto from there onwards. Notably, the stand-off between A...

East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police (SP) Vivek Syiem on Wednesday informed that Advocate Gautam KC has been appointed as new special public prosecutor in to over Sonam Raghuvanshi case, replacing the former additional public prosecutor Tushar Chandra. Responding to question if Sonam will get bail, he said that Meghalaya Police has filed chargesheet against all 5 accused, and as for bail it is upto the court to decide. Gautam said that the bail hearing will take place in Sohra. He said that the defence has sought bail on the ground that police submitted an "incomplete chargesheet".