Meghalaya

In a significant step towards improving air connectivity and regional development, Shillong Airport is set to undergo a major expansion that will allow it to accommodate larger aircraft by 2026. The project, estimated at ₹119 crore, is expected to transform the airport into a vital hub for northeastern India.  Announcing the development, Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar stated that the expansion work is scheduled to begin soon. He informed the media that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has already floated the tender for the ambitious project. “This initiative will not only expand the airport’s capacity but also open up the region to wider air networks, making travel more convenient and boosting our state’s economy,” said Dhar. The plan...

The BJP’s Meghalaya unit will organise workshops and awareness campaigns across the state to dispel misinformation about the Waqf (Amendment) Act. State BJP leader Gagan Jain told reporters on Saturday that a direction in this regard was received from the party’s central leadership. “We were enlightened about the Act. We were told to dispel all the misinformation that the Opposition is carrying forward,” Jain said. The BJP leader also said this is a very important Act that will ensure there is a right to appeal if the Waqf Board decides to take away the properties of somebody. “Earlier, there was no right to appeal against illegal and wrongful approach to properties by the Waqf Board. Now, this Act will take care of it,” Jain added. Recently, the Shillong Muslim Union (SMU) had conv...

Seeking to end the months-long impasse in the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), the state government has now urged Governor CH Vijayashankar to take up the matter with the central government. Expressing concern over the prolonged deadlock, Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma on Sunday said since the state has limited authority to intervene into the matter directly, it is in constant communication with the Education Ministry to find solutions to the problems. “The Chief Minister is in touch with the Ministry and he is updating the Centre from time to time. I also at my level have taken it up with the Centre to find a sustainable solution at the earliest,” he said further adding, “We met the Governor and discussed the issue and requested him to take it up at his level.” “I personal...

The state government has warned pressure groups not to take the law into their own hands. “Be it pressure groups or be it anybody, we should be guided by prescribed norms of the law. We cannot take the law in our hands,” Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police), Prestone Tynsong said on Friday. His statement comes following last week’s incident in NEIGRIHMS where the HYC had attempted to forcibly shut down the Director’s Administrative Block over the issue of recruitment of nurses. Earlier, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had asserted that action will be initiated in connection with the disruption of operations at NEIGRIHMS. He said the police have taken note of the incident and a case has been registered. The police are taking steps as per law and action will be initiated based...

The Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) has shortlisted 21 players for the final selection-cum-preparatory camp for the upcoming 1st North East Little Master’s Trophy 2025, to be held in Guwahati from April 19. The shortlisted players will participate in a preparatory camp at Nongkhrah, Ri-Bhoi, from April 12 to 18. Selection was based on performance during trials held in Shillong and Tura from April 8 to 10. All selected players and support staff from Khasi-Jaintia Hills will report at Polo Ground, Shillong, on April 11 at 1:30 PM, while those from Garo Hills will directly report at Nongkhrah. MCA has instructed players to submit essential documents, including a birth certificate, Aadhaar card copy, and three years’ mark sheets, by April 12. The support team includes head coach ...

In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, Meghalaya Police arrested three individuals in West Khasi Hills and seized a significant quantity of heroin and cannabis. The arrests were made during a late-evening operation by the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) on the Langpih-Nongstoin road. The accused — Bryan Kharbani (29), Donkerry Ryntathiang (25), and Morningstar L. Rngaid (31) — all residents of Nongstoin, were intercepted at Nonglang village while returning from Assam. Police recovered 15 grams of heroin, vials, and syringes from their vehicle (ML 06 A 1450). In a parallel search operation, officers also apprehended Kostarlin Iawphniaw (28) of Mawlai Syiem village, Eastern West Khasi Hills, and recovered 130 grams of cannabis from his vehicle. All seized items, including mobil...

The VPP on Wednesday strongly countered Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s justification for the CM IMPACT guidebooks initiative, asserting that the standard of examinations should not be lowered to the extent that they feel like no examinations at all. “We have already said it should be scrapped,” said VPP spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh. “If the CM IMPACT is only a model for students and the real questions are different, I’ll accept that. But questions are actually being set directly from the guidebook. In fact, not even one question should come from it.” Myrboh emphasised that examination standards must remain robust and credible. “If our students performed well without a single question from those guidebooks, I would salute the Education department,” he added.