Meghalaya

The Meghalaya High Court has ordered the Advocate General and the petitioner's counsel to visit the Shillong Peak Ropeway Cable Car Project area to assess the feasibility of compensatory afforestation. The court's directive came during a hearing on Geraldine G Shabong's PIL against alleged indiscriminate and large-scale tree felling in the Lawsohtun area of East Khasi Hills District. The State government claims the deforestation was carried out after obtaining permission from the Central government. The petitioner's counsel argued that the State government is duty-bound to effect compensatory afforestation, but the afforestation result in Meghalaya is the lowest in the country. The court has listed the PIL for further hearing on August 14, 2025.

In a significant stride toward industrial development in Meghalaya, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday inaugurated a ₹340 crore PepsiCo bottling plant at Mendipathar in North Garo Hills district — the largest such facility in the entire Northeast region.Spanning across 37 acres within the Mendipathar Industrial Area, the plant is expected to generate hundreds of direct and indirect employment opportunities, opening new avenues for local businesses and uplifting the regional economy. Notably, Mendipathar remains the only town in Meghalaya with a railway head, making it a strategic location for large-scale industry.Calling the development a "blessing for the state," CM Sangma said, “This plant is not just an industrial unit—it symbolizes Meghalaya’s future. Nobody imagined that th...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, on July 30, inaugurated a Rs 340 crore PepsiCo bottling plant at Mendipathar town in North Garo Hills district. Mendipathar is the only town in the state having a railway head. Calling the project a "blessing" for the state, Sangma said, "This is a symbol of the economic growth that Meghalaya is on track to achieve. Nobody would have ever imagined that the largest bottling plant in the NE would be right here in Mendipathar." He said the project would raise aspirations among the youth and stimulate ancillary industries. "We can anticipate that different avenues will come up in the region," he said. Spread across 37 acres in the Mendipathar Industrial Area, the bottling unit is expected to generate direct and indirect employment for hundreds o...

The BSF in Meghalaya on Wednesday said it has apprehended 116 Bangladesh nationals and seized 622 cattle worth around Rs 6.2 crore over the past three months. Other smuggled items valued at over Rs 1.3 crore were also recovered from them during an operation carried out between April 25 and July 25 along the India-Bangladesh border, officials said. Altogether, 150 people, including 34 Indian nationals, were apprehended during the period. Contraband such as Yaba tablets, ganja, besides liquor, cosmetics, garments and a large consignment of mobile display units were seized, they said. "All operations were conducted in close coordination with the Meghalaya Police," a BSF spokesperson said. The BSF remains committed to an intelligence-driven, community-sensitive approach that prioritises...

In a major political development, Mylliem MLA Ronnie V. Lyngdoh, who was the sole Congress legislator in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, has officially resigned from the party and is set to join the ruling National People's Party (NPP). Ronnie, who served as Leader of the Opposition and currently holds the post of Chief Whip of the Opposition, was left alone in the Congress after three of his party colleagues defected to the NPP earlier this year. On Wednesday morning, Ronnie submitted his resignation letter to the Speaker of the Assembly, marking the end of his lone battle on the Opposition bench. He was accompanied by supporters and local NPP leaders from the Mylliem constituency, including Hamletson Dohling, Daniel Thangkhiew, and close family members. This move solidifies NPP's...

The National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP) in Longleng commemorated World Hepatitis Day 2025 at Yachem CHC, Longleng. The event was presided over by Peer Educator Penny and included a keynote address delivered by Dr. Temsu, the District Programme Officer for Longleng. He underscored the significance of awareness, early detection, and prevention of hepatitis. Dr. Temsu pointed out the rising mortality rate associated with hepatitis in India and discussed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's special flagship national initiative. He urged citizens to undergo early screening for hepatitis and highlighted the availability of free testing and treatment provided by the government. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of community involvement and the need to destigmatize the...

The Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, A&N Administration is organizing long-term Yoga coaching classes aimed at benefiting school-aged children (both boys and girls). The Yoga sessions are held at the Netaji Stadium Sports Complex, Sri Vijaya Puram, from 5:00 AM to 6:30 AM, excluding Sundays and Gazetted holidays. Students who are interested are encouraged to register their names with the Yoga Instructor/PET at Netaji Stadium, Sri Vijaya Puram.

As the third Meghalaya Pineapple Festival, which will take place from August 1–3 at Dilli Haat in New Delhi, approaches, Meghalaya's pineapple industry has reached a major milestone: over 757 metric tons of processed fruit have reached European Union baby food makers. Over 30,000 farmers from the districts of Ri-Bhoi and Garo Hills participated in the extensive agricultural reform that resulted in the export success. Through self-help group activities that guarantee quality control and full traceability from farm to market, these farmers grow naturally organic Kew pineapples with a high Brix value. During her visit to Meghalaya, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently announced the supply of quality pineapples to Dubai; the fruit is currently sold at Lulu Hypermarkets. This ...

The Meghalaya High Court has ordered Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), Mawphlang, to pay ₹6.5 lakh as compensation to the family of Nathaniel Sohtun, a Class 11 student who died of electrocution in 2024 due to poor electrical infrastructure and lack of safety protocols.Justice Hamar Sing Thangkhiew, delivering the verdict on July 29, said the compensation must be paid within eight weeks, in addition to the ₹1 lakh ex gratia already paid. The decision came in response to a writ petition filed by the student’s mother, Phidapherlin Sohtun. The incident occurred on the terrace of the school hostel where Nathaniel and his friends went to bathe after a sports session. Despite being a restricted area, the terrace was left unlocked. The court found this a “clear failure of duty” by school staf...

Meghalaya government has announced complete pedestrianisation of the popular commercial stretch from 7 am to 9 pm, with exclusive car passes only for area residents. The bustling Khyndailad (Police Bazar) area in Shillong will transform into a pedestrian-only zone for 14 hours daily, following the successful relocation of licensed street vendors to a designated space at the MUDA parking complex. Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh announced the immediate implementation of the vehicle restriction from 7 am to 9 pm on weekdays. Residents living along the Khyndailad-to-Dreamland stretch will receive special car passes, limited to one per household, after authorities complete the ongoing process of collecting residential details through the Shillong Municipal Board. Business owners operating in the...