Meghalaya

Shillong will probably continue to be the sole Indian capital without a railway line since the state government has not persuaded political parties, civil society organisations, or pressure groups to support the railway projects. The Ministry of Railways has now put the onus on the state government to convince the stakeholders within a time limit. Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday stopped short of calling off the two railway projects—Tetelia-Byrnihat and Byrnihat-Shillong—for which around Rs 200 crore has been sanctioned. Vaishnaw argued that convincing the stakeholders is the sole duty of the state government. “As per our Constitution, both the Centre and the states have their own responsibility to carry out such projects of national importance with huge economic signifi...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma met Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on February 3 to address critical challenges in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in the state. Sangma highlighted several pressing issues impacting the rural development program, particularly the delay in wage payments and the challenges faced by remote regions in utilizing digital systems. The CM made a formal request for intervention in three key areas: Wage Settlement: The immediate release of pending wages for workers from the 2023-24 fiscal year. Technology Challenges: Streamlining the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) application to ensure its functionality in Meghalaya’s remote regions. Financial Clearance: Resolving material li...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Saturday said the Union Budget 2025-26 is growth-oriented and will help transform the hilly state. "Grateful to Hon'ble Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman for a growth-oriented budget focused on agriculture, MSMEs, connectivity, and youth opportunities. Initiatives like PM Dhan Dhanya Yojana, enhanced MSME credit, and UDAN will transform Meghalaya," he said in a post on X. He said the modified UDAN scheme announced in the budget aimed at enhancing regional connectivity through helipads and smaller airports for hilly, aspirational and North Eastern regional districts will give wings to regional connectivity for tourist destinations in the region. It will also help improve connectivity in hilly states like Meghalaya, Sangma said.

The Smart Meter project in Meghalaya has come to a standstill as the state government is awaiting approval from the Ministry of Power to proceed with the installation.The delay primarily revolves around financial concerns, with the quoted price for installation exceeding the state’s estimated budget. Informing that the project has already been tendered, but the cost proposed by the contractor is significantly higher than anticipated, Power Minister AT Mondal revealed that similar pricing has been observed in other Northeastern states and they have raised the issue with the central government, seeking further discussions before moving ahead. Stating that the matter has been placed before the Government of India, and he has personally brought it up at the Power Ministers’ Conference, ...

The Meghalaya BJP is optimistic about gaining strong public support in the upcoming KHADC and JHADC elections, asserting that people have now begun to recognize the party as the only force capable of driving grassroots economic development. BJP’s chief spokesperson, Mariahom Kharkrang highlighted the party’s growing acceptance among voters in Meghalaya, stating that preparations for the February 21 elections are progressing smoothly. He emphasized that BJP’s core focus is economic growth and development, ensuring that every section of society benefits from progress. According to Kharkrang, the party has worked consistently to break misconceptions and engage directly with the public to highlight its policies and initiatives.In an effort to reach out to the masses, BJP’s Mandal committee...

In support of Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma's stance against the Uniform Civil Code, the Meghalaya BJP on Friday stated that the saffron party will back the decision in the best interests of the state's citizens.“For Meghalaya BJP, the interest of the people of the state is a priority,” BJP chief spokesperson, Mariahom Kharkrang said when asked about the stand of the party on UCC. He further said, “We will discuss with all the stakeholders and seek their opinion on the UCC and take a decision accordingly.”The BJP chief spokesperson assured that the voice and sentiments of the people of Meghalaya will be given due importance. While the BJP-led NDA Government seems determined to implement the UCC across the country, the NPP-led MDA Government has made it clear that they have no inte...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma attended the 3rd Annual Conference of the Meghalaya Hajong Welfare Association on January 31, 2025, in Purakhasia, South West Garo Hills district. During the event, the Chief Minister extended a grant of Rs 7 lakh through the Chief Minister's Special Grant to support community initiatives. In his address, CM Sangma emphasized the government’s commitment to inclusive development, ensuring equal progress for all communities and regions in the state. He highlighted that such events provide an opportunity to understand the grassroots needs and challenges faced by various communities. The conference included submissions from the community, outlining several development needs for the region. One of the major requests was for additional funds for t...

The state Cabinet on Thursday approved the amendments of four service rules. Meghalaya culinary tours The four service rules, which were amended are - The Meghalaya Accounts Service Rules, 1996, The Meghalaya Local Fund Audit Service Rules, 1996, Amendment of Rule 5 of the Meghalaya State Electricity Regulatory Commission Rules, 2003 and The Meghalaya Food and Civil Supplies Rules, 2001. "As you are aware the departmental promotions are stopped and that becomes a problem and hence these amended rules have to be in place," chief minister Conrad K Sangma told reporters.