Meghalaya

The Wah Umlew Protection Committee, comprising representatives from nine villages under the Nongtraw area in Ri Bhoi district, has voiced concern over the deteriorating condition of the Umlew River and called on the state government to take urgent steps to safeguard the water body. The committee alleged that ongoing earth-cutting activities linked to a road construction project being executed by Dhar Construction Company from Nongkohlew to NEIGHRIMS have led to significant pollution of the river. According to committee members, the Umlew River has been protected and maintained by local communities for decades and remains a vital resource for residents of the surrounding villages, they claimed that the recent excavation work has caused soil and debris to enter the river, affecting it...

Meghalaya’s efforts to improve maternal and child health through community-driven behavioural interventions have drawn the attention of UNICEF India, with senior officials visiting a village in Ri-Bhoi district to assess grassroots innovations aimed at boosting immunisation coverage and identifying high-risk pregnancies. Dennis Christian Larsen, Chief of Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) at UNICEF India, along with officials from UNICEF’s Delhi and Assam offices, visited Umpathaw village under Umling Block on June 11 to observe how behavioural insights are being translated into action through locally designed health interventions. The visit focused on understanding how communities are helping address persistent public health challenges, including vaccine hesitancy and gaps in matern...

The Meghalaya government has launched a One-Time Settlement (OTS) Scheme offering major tax and penalty waivers to commercial vehicle owners, with the aim of clearing long-pending dues and boosting revenue collection. The scheme was launched in Shillong by Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar. Approved by the state cabinet, the initiative allows commercial vehicle owners to settle outstanding liabilities by availing substantial concessions on taxes and penalties. Under the scheme, vehicle owners will receive an 80 per cent waiver on pending Motor Vehicle Tax, Goods and Passenger Tax dues, along with associated penalties. A 90 per cent waiver will also be granted on penalties linked to Fitness Certificates. Dhar said the settlement window covers outstandi...

A Bangladeshi national who spent several hours stranded in no-man's land along the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya was handed over to his family on June 11 after authorities verified his identity, bringing an end to a tense standoff between the border forces of the two countries. The incident unfolded in the Nandirchar sector near Mahendraganj in Meghalaya's South West Garo Hills district, where personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) disagreed over the nationality and identity of the individual. Videos purportedly showing the confrontation circulated widely on social media, although their authenticity could not be independently verified. According to BSF officials, the man was identified as Sati Rajbanshi, a resident of Chalna village in ...

The Federation of Industry & Commerce of North Eastern Region (FINER) will organise the North East India Infrastructure Summit & Exhibition (NEIINFRA Summit) 2026 on June 15 and 16 at the Lariti Performing Centre, Mawkasiang, Shillong, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, investors and infrastructure experts from across the country. The summit, with the Government of Meghalaya as the host state and Build India as co-organiser, was announced during a press meet held in Shillong on Wednesday. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate the summit as the chief guest.Organisers said the two-day event is expected to be one of the largest infrastructure-focused gatherings in Northeast India, with participation from all eight northeaste...

The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) has launched a direct challenge against the ruling government in Meghalaya, declaring that it will function as the "main opposition" in the state despite having no current legislative presence in the Assembly. Speaking at the state executive committee meeting of the Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress, IYC Secretary and Meghalaya in-charge Samrat Keshari Jena stated that the youth wing would aggressively take up public issues, bypassing the official opposition bloc currently comprising the Voice of the People Party (VPP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The political offensive follows the defection of four Congress legislators to the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), which left the parent party with zero seats in the Assembly. To counter this, the IYC ...

The Power Minister of Meghalaya, Metbah Lyngdoh, has officially announced that the state government has issued a formal letter to terminate the contract of Sai Computer Limited from managing power services in the Mawsynram Sub Division. This decisive action follows intense and widespread protests and complaints from local residents across the entire region regarding the company’s failure to provide a reliable electricity supply. Speaking to members of the press, Minister Lyngdoh explained that the government took this step after carefully listening to the grievances of the electricity consumers, local residents, and public representatives from the three constituencies under the sub-division, which include Mawphlang, Ranikor, and Mawsynram. Various local village councils, non-gove...

Gavin Mylliem officially assumed charge as Chairman of the Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation on Wednesday, succeeding James P. K. Sangma, who stepped down from the post after being elected to the Rajya Sabha. The change in leadership comes after James Sangma's successful election to the Upper House of Parliament as the consensus candidate of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance-II (MDA-II). With his new responsibilities at the national level, Sangma relinquished his role as Chairman of MIDC, paving the way for the appointment of the Sohra legislator. Gavin Mylliem formally took charge of the corporation on June 10 and is expected to oversee the implementation of various industrial development initiatives aimed at attracting investments, promoting entrepreneurship and generat...

BJP leader and former cabinet minister AL Hek urged the state government to conduct a thorough feasibility study before introducing the Inner Line Permit (ILP) or the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), if they get the necessary go ahead from the Centre. Speaking to reporters on the contentious issue on Wednesday, Hek said any new mechanism must balance the interests of local residents with those of visitors to the state. The Pynthorumkhrah MLA Hek said the focus should be on what is “doable” and beneficial for all stakeholders. “We first have to see what is doable. Which one we can do and which one we can’t,” Hek said. He added that the primary consideration must be the welfare of the state’s population, while also accounting for outsiders, particularly touri...

Meghalaya is gearing up to host one of the biggest investment events in the Northeast as the North East India Infrastructure Summit will be held at LARITI, Shillong, on June 15 and 16. The summit is expected to bring together ministers, top officials, business leaders, and investors from across the Northeast to explore major opportunities in sectors like tourism, connectivity, aviation, food processing, and infrastructure development. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, IAS officer Sanjay Goyal said Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has invited ministers from all Northeastern states to take part in the summit, which aims to position the region as a strong destination for investment and growth. “The Northeast is now ready to absorb investments,” Goyal said, adding that the event wil...