Meghalaya

On October 31, Border Security Force officers stopped a car carrying food supplies that were being smuggled into Bangladesh in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. At the Barmanbari T-junction, close to the international border, members of the 193rd Battalion BSF halted the vehicle in response to particular intelligence. The confiscated goods were being transported illegally across international borders. A cosmetics smuggling operation in the same area was thwarted earlier on October 25 by BSF officers, who confiscated 12 cartons of Skin Shine ointment valued at Rs 12 lakh. The illegal goods, which were thought to be headed for Bangladesh, were found concealed in a thick jungle close to the international border. The confiscated items have been turned over to Pynursla customs...

The huge disparity in air quality between two Meghalayan cities has brought attention to the state's escalating environmental problems. Although Shillong continues to be one of the cleanest cities in India, Byrnihat, which is only 75 kilometers away, is one of the most polluted places in the country. Shillong has much cleaner air than Byrnihat, which has a dangerous AQI of 276 according to recent Central Pollution Control Board air quality readings. This discrepancy highlights the effects of Byrnihat's industrial belt's fast industrialization. After inspections conducted by Forest & Environment Principal Secretary Sampath Kumar, officials closed six industrial units last month, bringing Byrnihat's pollution problem to a head. The closed plants have disregarded the Meghalaya Sta...

A sharp contrast in air quality between Shillong and Byrnihat has underscored environmental challenges for Meghalaya. While Shillong enjoys one of India's cleanest atmospheres, just 75 kilometers away, Byrnihat battles pollution levels that rank it among the nation’s most affected areas. Recent data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) places Byrnihat’s AQI at a hazardous 276, in stark contrast to Shillong’s fresh air. This divide illustrates the toll of Byrnihat’s rapid industrial growth. The pollution crisis escalated last month, prompting authorities to close six industrial units after inspections led by Forest & Environment Principal Secretary Sampath Kumar. The facilities had PM2.5 concentrations nearly double the permissible limit and lacked required pollution cont...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has assured the state’s 13,000 Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) teachers that a policy for job security will soon be implemented. Meeting with representatives from the Meghalaya SSA School Association (MSSASA) in Tura, Sangma promised in-depth discussions to draft a policy aimed at regularizing SSA teachers’ services. The assurance comes as MSSASA recently issued a two-month ultimatum for action on job security. MSSASA president Aristole C Rymbai expressed optimism following the meeting, calling it "productive." In a related move on October 24, the Meghalaya cabinet approved an increase in the upper age limit for SSA teachers applying for government teaching roles, now set at 45 years. Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma stated that this relaxat...

The state government intends to move over 200 registered hawkers and street vendors from Shillong's Khyndailad by the end of November, according to Meghalaya Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh. The Meghalaya government is taking this action in an effort to draw tourists and visitors to the city and turn the region into a pedestrian zone. The state government has ruled out the possibility of let unlicensed hawkers to conduct business in Khyndailad, Lyngdoh told reporters. The Meghalaya High Court orders the state administration to provide a report by January 6 on how street vendors' stalls are causing "interference" with traffic flow and traffic bottlenecks. The state government was awaiting information about various trades, according to minister Paul Lyngdoh, who earlier on August 13 confir...

Three esteemed faculty members from North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Meghalaya, have earned a spot on Stanford University's prestigious list of the Top 2% Scientists in the World. Recognized for their significant impact in research, this honor highlights their contributions to advancing scientific understanding in their respective fields. The honored researchers include Prof. AK Chandra from the Department of Chemistry, Prof. Timir Tripathi from the Department of Zoology, and Dr. Shruti Shukla from the Department of Nanotechnology. The recognition is based on a detailed analysis of citation metrics from the Scopus database, underscoring scholars whose work has left a profound mark in the global scientific community. Prof. AK Chandra is renowned in theoretical and computational che...

NEHU Vice Chancellor Prabha Shankar Shukla has taken a leave of absence until November 4 amid the crisis at North-Eastern Hill University, where the NEHUSU and NEHUTA are in revolt against the alleged authoritarian behavior of the university's leaders and the flagrant violations of its statutes and acts. Both Deputy Registrar Amit Gupta and NEHU Registrar Colonel Omkar Singh, who are also under fire for their contentious appointments, have taken time off till October 31. Because Singh "is not fit and competent to hold" the office of registrar, NEHUTA and NEHUSU have requested that the Vice Chancellor dismiss Singh's employment. When contacted, Lakhon Kma, president of NEHUTA, said he was surprised that the VC had chosen to take a leave of absence, particularly in light of the events th...