Meghalaya

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has urged the Ministry of Education and the National Testing Agency (NTA) to establish CUET examination centres within the state, after students were assigned centres in Guwahati, causing logistical and financial difficulties. Taking to social media, Sangma highlighted the issue, stating, "I have requested the Ministry of Education and the NTA to intervene in allotting CUET examination centres within Meghalaya for our students. Many students are being assigned Guwahati centres, causing inconvenience. Hopeful that the issue will be resolved." The decision to allocate CUET exam centres outside Meghalaya has sparked concerns among students and parents, particularly those from remote areas who face challenges in traveling to Guwahati for the exams....

Meghalaya on Monday initiated the scientific mining of coal after more than a decade of a ban on rat-hole mining imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma inaugurated the first scientific coal mining block at ‘Saryngkham-A’ at Byndihati in East Jaintia Hills district through video conferencing. It was in April 2014 when the NGT had banned rat-hole coal mining following a petition filed by a student group in adjoining Dima Hasao district of Assam, claiming river acidification due to mining. Addressing a gathering, Sangma congratulated stakeholders, including officials, mine owners, other mining lease applicants and the owner of this particular mining lease, Dapmain Shylla of Byndihati, who all contributed in making scientific mining in the state a real...

An abandoned bag near Prakash Hotel at Laitumkhrah Police Point triggered a bomb scare on Monday morning, prompting authorities to call in the bomb squad. The incident caused panic among residents and passers-by as police swiftly cordoned off the area as a precautionary measure. The bomb squad of the Meghalaya Police was deployed to inspect the suspicious item. Upon examination, officials found that the bag contained only a laptop, medicines, and some documents, confirming there was no security threat. Police informed that the abandoned bag belonged to the owner of the hotel, who had mistakenly left it near the premises.

The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Meghalaya successfully hosted three five-day training programmes sponsored by the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) from March 10 to March 14 at its Shohra campus. The programmes were inaugurated by Chief Guest Satinder K. Bhalla, Deputy Director General of the Department of Telecommunications, and Guest of Honour Bijit Goswami, Executive Director (Tech-Operation & Maintenance) of North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO). The sessions were conducted under the leadership of NIT Meghalaya Director Prof. Pinakeswar Mahanta. The training focused on three key areas: Advanced Management Development – Data Science and AI for Management DevelopmentEntrepreneurial Skill Development Programme (ESDP) – Aw...

Four individuals were deported on Saturday by the KSU and the FKJGP Jowai unit after they failed to produce valid documents to prove their identity. The individuals were trying to enter Sohmynting village in West Jaiñtia Hills when they were detained by the groups led by FKJGP leaders L Dhar, and M Pyrtuh along with the members of the KSU Jowai Unit. The four persons who claimed they were from Assam were sent back after they failed to produce proper documents. At the same time, the organisations has also issued a warning against anyone trying to enter the state without proper documentation.

Byrnihat, a bustling industrial town on the Assam-Meghalaya border, has been named the world's most polluted metropolitan area in the recently released 2024 World Air Quality Report. However, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has cast doubts over the accuracy of this ranking, attributing the alarming Air Quality Index (AQI) figures to an Assam-based monitoring station. Expressing his concerns, Sangma emphasized that the pollution data being widely reported originates from a station in Assam, not Meghalaya. "All the records cited in newspaper reports are based on AQI measurements taken from Assam's monitoring station, which recorded very poor air quality," he stated. "However, when we analyzed data from three monitoring stations in Meghalaya in January 2025, our readings indicated air...

The Meghalaya government is optimistic about clearing the dues of NTPC Limited worth Rs 565 crore by 2026-27. Replying to a cut motion in the Assembly on Wednesday, Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal said the initial loan of Rs 488 crore was neutralised to some extent by a loan of Rs 244 crore in 2023. Still, due to interest and other charges, the loans accumulated to Rs 664 crore. Following this, the state government met with NTPC officials, which gave a rebate of Rs 99 crore, thereby reducing the loan component to Rs 565 crore. The NTPC initially asked the government to clear the dues in 20 instalments but agreed to the state government’s request for payment in 36 instalments. As of now, the MeECL is paying Rs 15.7 crore to the NTPC every month and it is confident of clearing the dues b...

The Meghalaya High Court has directed the state government to submit a detailed report on the implementation of the plastic ban, particularly for items less than 120 microns in thickness. During a hearing on PIL No. 7 of 2024, a bench comprising Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh reviewed progress reports from Block Development Officers (BDOs) but found them lacking in specific details. "We are satisfied with the action taken so far by the government, but we treat this as only the beginning of the journey," the bench stated, stressing the need for continuous and stricter enforcement. The public interest litigation (PIL), filed by Phuyosa Yobin, seeks a complete plastic ban across Meghalaya. The court had earlier issued directives on August 16, 2024, followed by specific or...