Meghalaya

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on August 26 ordered a status quo on the proposed cement plant in East Jaintia Hills district after meeting leaders of the Khasi Students' Union (KSU), which has raised objections to the project. Sangma said a fact-finding committee would examine the KSU's concerns over the public hearing process, stakeholder participation and environmental issues surrounding the proposed plant at Daistong village. All work at the project site will remain suspended until the committee completes its inquiry and submits its report, the chief minister said. “Till the committee completes its work, things will be on status quo. No further work will proceed, and everything will be stopped,” Sangma told reporters after the meeting. The committee will be headed...

The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has temporarily suspended its protest agitation after holding a meeting with the Meghalaya government, chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, to discuss five key points from its charter of demands. Expressing partial satisfaction with the government's commitments, former KSU general secretary Donald V Thabah confirmed the pause following assurances that an independent, senior official-led fact-finding committee will investigate alleged procedural lapses, stakeholder exclusion, and environmental concerns regarding the public hearing for the proposed Shree Cement project. All project-related activities will remain on hold until the inquiry concludes. Addressing other key demands, Chief Minister Sangma announced measures to streamline tenant registration u...

Due to the recent border conflict and road blockades, the tourism industry in Meghalaya has faced nearly 100 percent loss. This was revealed by the state's Tourism Minister Timothy D. Shira on the second day of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly's budget session. He also stated that due to the abnormal decline in the number of tourists, local hotels, homestays and traders have fallen into deep financial crisis. The Tourism Minister said that the issue has been resolved after successful talks at the Chief Minister level of both states. Therefore, he made it clear that there is no need to impose any kind of blockade on the inter-state roads or restriction on vehicular movement now. The Minister also announced in the Assembly that the Meghalaya government will provide compensation to the ...

In a targeted effort to elevate the standard of education and address core learning gaps, the Government of Meghalaya on Wednesday officially launched the “CM-IMPACT Read & Rise Meghalaya” programme.Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma inaugurated the initiative at the Assembly Annexe Hall in Shillong, marking a structured step toward universal reading readiness for school children across the State.The Read & Rise Meghalaya” initiative (Meghalaya Universal Reading Readiness Pro-gramme), is a primary pillar of the broader educational reform mandate, CM-IMPACT (Chief Minister’s Initiative for Maximising Pass Achievement and Classroom Triumph).The programme is designed to ensure students develop grade-appropriate reading abilities, providing the necessary foundation for overall ...

Opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) chief and Nongkrem MLA Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit on Tuesday placed a 10-point charter before the Meghalaya Assembly, raising concerns over land, recruitment, jobs, influx, industrial projects and natural resources. During a short-duration discussion, Basaiawmoit demanded that the proposed Lumpongdeng project be scrapped and sought a white paper detailing the land involved, environmental impact, compensation, financial commitments and expected benefits to the state. He stressed that development must have the consent of affected communities. On recruitment, the VPP called for greater independence and transparency in the Meghalaya Public Service Commission and District Selection Committees, along with safeguards against political interference and di...

Meghalaya Police have arrested another leader of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) in connection with the violence that broke out during a KSU rally in Shillong on August 19. With the latest arrest, four KSU leaders have so far been arrested in connection with the case. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma condemned the violence during the ongoing autumn session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly and assured that strict action would be taken against those responsible. According to figures presented by the Chief Minister, a total of 31 vehicles were damaged during the violence, including eight vehicles registered in Assam. As many as 18 people were injured and received treatment at Shillong Civil Hospital. The state government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed ...

On the second day of the Meghalaya Assembly, Tourism Minister Timothy D. Shira said that the tourism sector has suffered losses of nearly 100 percent.The Tourism Minister said the number of tourists visiting Meghalaya had fallen sharply due to the dispute. Road blockages and the situation involving vehicles have directly affected hotels, homestays, and local businesses dependent on tourism. Although issue had been resolved following discussions between the chief ministers of the two states. Therefore, there is now no need for any blockade or restriction on vehicle movement. He further stated that the Meghalaya government will compensate owners of Assam vehicles that were damaged during the dispute. He also stressed the need to restore normal movement of vehicles between the two stat...

The Meghalaya government introduced 10 bills on the first day of the Autumn Session of the State Assembly, covering official languages, forest administration, money lending, public services and higher education. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma introduced the Meghalaya Official Language Bill 2026, which seeks to replace the existing ordinance and pave the way for Khasi and Garo to be recognised as official languages alongside English, rather than only as associate official languages. Sangma also introduced amendments to the Meghalaya Forest Authority Act to provide state grants and establish a dedicated fund for the authority. Another key proposal, the Meghalaya Money Lenders and Accredited Loan Providers’ Bill 2026, seeks to replace the existing legislation and reform the regulation of mon...

The Directorate of Arts and Culture has decided to take up the immediate restoration and re-installation of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose statue at R&R Colony following its desecration by unidentified anti-social elements during the KSU black-flag bike rally on August 19. A meeting held on August 21 in the office chamber of the Director, Arts and Culture, reviewed the incident and the condition of the associated civil works at the site. The department decided to take necessary steps for the restoration and re-installation of the Netaji statue. The office-bearers of the R&R Colony Welfare Society will handle the repair and restoration of the statue of Swami Vivekananda in collaboration with the Arts and Culture Department. The department will process the matter on priorit...

Two men have been arrested for allegedly leading a mob attack on three people suspected of theft at Mawngap in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district, police said. The incident took place around 5.40 am on August 23, when police received information that three suspected thieves had been caught by members of the public at 11 Mer, Mylliem. A team from Mawngap police station reached the spot and found the three being assaulted by a mob. Police intervened and rescued them, but officers and personnel were also allegedly manhandled and verbally abused while trying to disperse the crowd. The three injured persons were identified as 25-year-old Banshan Kurbah of Mairang, Lumkyllang; 26-year-old Albert Marbaniang of Mawlai Mawtawar; and 27-year-old Ibalabet Kharmwlong, also of Mawlai Mawta...