Meghalaya

Meghalaya has been allocated Rs 405.64 crore for 2024-25 under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Public Health Engineering Minister Marcuise N Marak told the state Assembly on September 11. The funds were sanctioned by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, he added, but the release for 2025-26 is still pending. Marak also highlighted that pending bills for contractors under JJM, amounting to Rs 695.01 crore as of August 31, 2025, have yet to be received from the Centre. However, as far as water tap connections are concerned Shillong areas have not seen any progress, with work still pending and stuck. Pasing through Nongmynsong and other areas, JJM pipeline can be seen installed, However, without any water for the public. While other states in Ondia hav...

Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the sensational murder of Indore businessman Raja Raghuvanshi, is likely to file a bail application before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Sohra Sub-Division, on Friday. A source on Thursday said Sonam's lawyers will seek bail on the grounds that the charge sheet filed by the Meghalaya Police is incomplete. "The bail petition will be filed due to the flawed charge sheet," the source added. Last week, the East Khasi Hills police had submitted a detailed charge sheet in the case. The report, running into 790 pages, names five principal accused and exposes what investigators described as a chilling conspiracy. The chargesheet formally indicted Raja's wife, Sonam, her alleged lover Raj Kushwaha, and three hired assailants - Vishal Singh Chauh...

The Meghalaya cabinet on Thursday approved amendments to the state’s excise rules, a move expected to generate an additional Rs 90 crore in revenue, officials said. The cabinet also accepted the independent inquiry committee report on Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited and gave its nod for the financial closure of major central power schemes. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the amendments were aimed at making the state more competitive with neighbouring states. “We want our rates and pricing to reflect market realities. This will make us more attractive to consumers and increase our revenue,” he told reporters after the meeting. On the power sector, the cabinet formally accepted the independent inquiry committee report on Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL). The review c...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday assured that the upcoming electoral roll revision will be conducted in a balanced manner, ensuring genuine citizens are not harassed while preventing non-citizens from being included in the state’s voter list. Replying to a cut motion in the Assembly, Sangma explained that the Summary Intensive Revision (SIR) is aimed at correcting errors, removing duplicate entries, and verifying questionable records. The process will include house-to-house enumeration, requiring each elector to submit an enumeration form. The Chief Minister clarified that voters already registered as of January 1, 2003, will not need to submit fresh documents, a measure approved by the Election Commission of India to ease the burden on elderly citizens. San...

Meghalaya is facing a staggering government job deficit of nearly 67,500 positions, a concern flagged by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma in the state assembly on Tuesday. With almost 70,000 young people entering the job market every year, the state government finds itself in a tight corner, able to accommodate only around 2,000 to 2,500 candidates in government departments. Highlighting the challenge, the Chief Minister said that nearly 7,000 vacancies across various departments are already in the recruitment pipeline, but these numbers remain a fraction of the demand. “There is a deficit of around 67,500 jobs in the government sector, which is why the government is coming up with a holistic plan to cater to the 70,000 youth eligible to join the workforce,” Sangma explained. To brid...

Meghalaya Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Wednesday announced that construction of a proposed five-star hotel at Umiam will begin within this year. The project, estimated at over Rs 150 crore, is expected to be completed in three years and aims to cater to high-end tourists visiting the state. The government has resolved land ownership issues with a private party concerning an island in Umiam Lake, where the hotel will be situated. Tenders and other formalities are currently being processed.  Lyngdoh emphasised the government's focus on developing luxury accommodations to boost tourism in Meghalaya.

Meghalaya is facing a deficit of about 67,500 jobs in the government sector, prompting the administration to chalk out a plan to address the challenge, the assembly was informed on Tuesday. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that around 70,000 youth become eligible to join the workforce every year, but the government can provide only 2,000-2,500 jobs annually. "There is a deficit of around 67,500 jobs in the government sector, which is why the government is coming up with a holistic plan to cater to the 70,000 youth eligible to join the workforce," Sangma said. About 7,000 vacancies across government departments are currently under recruitment, Sangma added. To address the employment challenge, the administration has launched a career counselling programme targeting 25 sectors, includ...

The KHADC on Monday announced the formation of an "Operation Team" to patrol and crack down on the rising unlawful activities in lewduh, particularly during night hours. The decision was taken at a meeting convened by the Executive Committee of the Council under the leadership of CEM Shemborlang Rynjah, with the participation of Hima Mylliem authorities, police personnel from Cantonment Beat House, and other stakeholders. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, KHADC Executive Member in charge of Land and Traditional Institutions, Powell Sohkhlet, along with Executive Member in charge of Trade, Winston Tony Lyngdoh, said the initiative is aimed at ensuring peace and security in the marketplace. They further informed that the Superintendent of the Council's Enforcement Wing, A Lanon...

The Meghalaya government has released ₹6.17 crore under the Post-Matric Scholarship scheme to support 10,346 Scheduled Tribe (ST) students for the 2024–25 academic session. The move, officials said, is aimed at encouraging higher education and ensuring fair access to financial assistance for tribal youth across the state. This disbursement marks the second installment under the Centre’s Umbrella Scholarship initiative, covering students enrolled in professional, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes. The scholarships are expected to ease financial pressures for families and help students continue their education without interruption. According to the Directorate of Higher and Technical Education, Meghalaya requires ₹102.4 crore to cover all 60,226 eligible applicants under the schem...

The Meghalaya government has released Rs 6.17 crore as part of a scholarship to benefit 10,346 Scheduled Tribe (ST) students for the 2024-25 academic session, officials said on Monday. The amount marks the second installment of disbursement under the Umbrella Scheme Post-Matric Scholarship, and will include students pursuing professional degrees, postgraduate and doctoral courses, they said. However, only partial disbursement was possible as many applicants had not yet linked their Aadhaar or bank accounts, an official statement said. According to the Directorate of Higher and Technical Education, the state requires a total of Rs 102.4 crore to extend the scholarship to all 60,226 eligible applicants. Officials confirmed that delays in Aadhaar and bank account linkage have limited the ...