Meghalaya

The Meghalaya Cabinet has approved the establishment of the Greater Shillong Waste Management Agency and its registration as a Society. The proposal was approved in the Cabinet meeting on Thursday. With Shillong witnessing rapid growth and increasing urbanization, waste collection and management are currently being handled by multiple agencies across different jurisdictions. This fragmentation has resulted in gaps in coordination and inefficiencies, affecting the overall effectiveness of waste management across the city. Recognizing these challenges, the state government has decided to set up the Greater Shillong Waste Management Agency to streamline efforts and improve overall efficiency. The decision follows extensive consultations with localities within the Greater Shillong Pla...

Fifteen persons have been arrested in connection with the murder of a man at Dagal Nachikol village under Songsak Police Station in East Garo Hills, with police launching a search operation to nab the remaining accused. “…out of the 16 (sixteen) accused persons named in the FIR, 15 (fifteen) have been arrested. Further search operation is being carried out by Police to nab the remaining accused involved in the crime,” East Garo Hills Superintendent of Police S Rynjah said in a statement. The action was taken after a written FIR pertaining to a murder case was received at Songsak Police Station following an incident that occurred on April 8, 2026, where one person viz. (L) Talseng T Sangma, resident of Dagal Nachikol, was physically assaulted by a group of persons inside his residential...

The union government has officially listed three pivotal bills for introduction in the Lok Sabha this Thursday, marking a definitive step toward implementing the long-awaited women’s reservation law by the 2029 general elections. The legislative package aims to not only "operationalize" the 33 percent quota for women but also significantly expand the maximum strength of the Lower House to 850 members. The legislative agenda includes ‘The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026,' ‘The Delimitation Bill, 2026,' and ‘The Union Territories Laws (Amendment Bill), 2026. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are slated to lead the introductions. The Business Advisory Committee has allocated a substantial 18 hours for the debate, indica...

A rain museum is currently under construction in Mawsynram and is expected to be completed within a year, UDP legislator Olan Sing Suin said on Wednesday. Speaking about tourism initiatives in his constituency, Suin said, “The tourism initiatives in the constituency, including the rain museum, are under construction now and we are going to see the light of the day after one year.” Describing the design of the facility, he said visitors will experience rainfall inside the structure. “You will see when you are inside of the museum you will feel that you are in a rain museum because the roof is design in such a way that when the rain is tapped in the roof and the rain will fall on the surface, you will see pouring of rain from the roof to the ground,” Suin said. The project is being im...

The state government has appealed to Green Tech Foundation (GTF) to withdraw their hunger strike, stating there is no permanent construction project on Lumpongdeng Island and shares the foundation’s aim of preserving its natural environment.The appeal came after the Director of Tourism BL Pakyntein held a meeting with the GTF leaders who are on an indefinite hunger strike demanding the scrapping of a tourism project on Lumpongdeng Island. “We appeal to withdraw the protest because we feel that their mandate and what they want is also what we want, that is preservation, upliftment, and to keep the nature there intact for people to enjoy,” Pakyntein said. She reiterated that the department does not intend to build permanent structures on the island. “So, what they want is also what we wa...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday said investment in youth and education is important for sustainable development. “It is not just about building school and educational buildings or providing educational infrastructures and amenities, but our every decision is a part of the larger vision and goal we have for the state,” Sangma said after inaugurating the RMSA School at Mawlieh. The Chief Minister said that government focuses on suitable development throughout the state to ensure that development touches individual lives hence social sectors like education are the focused sectors for the government. He also emphasized on the importance of communities and its culture and traditions and the integration of grassroots communities in the developmental journey of the s...

Efforts to resolve the deadlock over the proposed Taj Umiam luxury resort and spa project ended without progress on Wednesday evening, after a meeting between Tourism officials and members of the Green-Tech Foundation Meghalaya failed to reach any agreement. Following the inconclusive talks, the foundation announced that its chairman, H. Bansiewdor Nonglang, will continue his indefinite hunger strike at Malki Ground, which has now entered its seventh day. The protest has become the centre of a growing controversy, highlighting the clash between environmental protection and tourism-driven development in the ecologically sensitive Umiam region. The government has already stated that it intends to proceed with the project at the existing Umiam Orchid site. Speaking to the media after the ...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has announced that the State government will formally launch an ambitious research programme in May to undertake DNA mapping, linguistic analysis and cultural studies of the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo communities of the State.The initiative is a significant push to scientifically document the origins and heritage of indigenous communities, marking one of the most comprehensive efforts yet to establish an evidence-based narrative of tribal history in the State.The Chief Minister said the initiative is backed by two dedicated committees and follows preliminary groundwork that has already been undertaken.Sangma said a productive meeting was held with the Arts and Culture Department and research groups to deliberate on the project proposal focusing on th...

Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong has assured that the government is open to talks with the Green Tech Foundation, which is staging a hunger strike protest against the proposed tourism project at Umiam lake and Lumpongdeng Island. “The door of the government is always open. We have clarified our stance, and we are willing to provide further clarification if needed,” Tynsong said. When asked if the government would send a messenger to invite the protesters for talks at the secretariat, he replied, “No, not necessarily. The door of the government is always open for further clarification and discussion.” The deputy chief minister has assured that the government is committed to protecting the environment while promoting tourism in Meghalaya. The GTF is demanding the scrapping of th...

The Government of Meghalaya today celebrated World Art Day 2026 at the Dorbar Hall of Lok Bhavan in Shillong, marking the occasion with the theme, “Vande Virasat: Cultural Roots Powering Viksit Bharat 2047” and commemorating 150 years of “Vande Mataram.”World Art Day, observed internationally to promote awareness of creative activity and fine arts, was celebrated with great enthusiasm in Shillong today.The celebration also marked the 150th anniversary of “Vande Mataram,” highlighting the country’s rich artistic and cultural heritage.Former Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Charles Pyngrope, who attended the event as the chief guest, said art plays a vital role in preserving culture, tradition and collective memory.Pyngrope said Meghalaya, known as the Abode of Clouds, is a li...