Meghalaya

The Meghalaya government has bought 96 acres of land in Rongalgre, East Garo Hills, for a permanent venue for the Me’gong Festival that will feature replica villages of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo tribes to give tourists a firsthand experience of tribal life. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced the project on Tuesday while addressing the launch of “Ki Dienjat – Revisiting the Roots” at Taraghar State Guest House. “Very soon, of course this is still in the planning stage only, but I am happy to share that we have just recently planned for a permanent location for the Me’gong festival at a place called Rongalgre in East Garo Hills,” Sangma said. “About 96 acres of land have been bought and we have started the work. In that place, we are actually planning to put up different villag...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on August 18 attended a meeting of the High Powered Committee (HPC) at the premises of the new State Assembly building in Mawdiangdiang to review the progress of the project and discuss procedures for its final completion. During the meeting, the committee reviewed the ongoing works and took stock of the steps required to complete and operationalise the new Assembly building. The meeting focused on ensuring that the remaining works and completion procedures are carried out in a timely and coordinated manner, paving the way for the functioning of the new State Assembly complex. The Chief Minister also assessed the progress of the project on site, with the HPC reviewing various aspects related to the final stage of construction and completio...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday laid the foundation stone for the upgradation of the Weiloi–Mawkyrwat–Rangthong road in South West Khasi Hills, a Rs 140-crore project funded entirely by the state government. Describing the road as a potential “growth corridor,” Sangma said improved connectivity would reduce travel time, link villages with economic centres and expand access to healthcare, education and markets. He emphasised that investment in roads is an investment in people and a key driver of balanced regional development. The Chief Minister noted that historically underserved districts, including South West Khasi Hills, are now central to the government’s development agenda. Since 2018, projects worth more than Rs 850 crore have been implemented in the district, cov...

Meghalaya’s first tribal woman Chief Secretary, Rebecca Suchiang, has passed away after battling cancer for more than two years. Suchiang, who had been unwell for some time, passed away on Tuesday while undergoing treatment for cancer. She took oath as Meghalaya’s Chief Secretary on September 30,2021. Suchiang, a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre and the first Khasi woman to serve as Chief Secretary of Meghalaya.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has expressed deep grief over the deaths of five people from the state in the devastating fire at Hotel Bideshini Yatri Nibas in Tarapith, Birbhum district of West Bengal, and announced an ex-gratia assistance of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased. The fire broke out at the hotel in the early hours of Monday, killing eight people, including five from Meghalaya. The Meghalaya victims, all from Dalu in West Garo Hills, have been identified as Rajendra Nath, Asha Nath, Buran Madak and their two children, 10-year-old Shivraj Madak and eight-year-old Aushnath Madak. Six other people from West Garo Hills who were staying in the area were rescued. Expressing his condolences, Chief Minister Sangma said the loss of five citizens, includi...

Speaking to the media following a peaceful sit-in demonstration in Khliehriat today, Shri Wanshwa Suting, General Secretary of the Jaiñtia National Council (JNC), Central Executive Committee, strongly condemned the alleged use of force and restrictions imposed on members of the public in connection with the public hearing for the proposed Shree Cement mining project at Lum Syrman, East Jaiñtia Hills. The JNC stated that every affected person has the right to attend a public hearing and freely express their views, concerns, objections, as This right is also recognised administered by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board. Shri Suting further expressed serious concern over reports of the digging of a PWD road by alleged supporters of Shree Cement, vandalism of public vehicles, a...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma today said that the transformative role of road infrastructure in unlocking growth across remote districts, as he laid the foundation stone for the upgradation of the Weiloi–Mawkyrwat–Rangthong road in South West Khasi Hills. The ₹140 crore project, funded entirely from the State’s own resources, is a milestone in the government’s effort to expand connectivity and ensure that development reaches beyond Shillong into the farthest corners of the state. Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, Tourism Minister Timothy D Shira, MLAs Renikton Lyngdoh, Piyush Marwein, Olan Singh Suin and Dr Celestine Lyngdoh also attended the programme. Addressing a large gathering, the Chief Minister emphasised that infrastructure investments are ultimately inv...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government’s initiatives over the past eight years have been guided by the welfare and wellbeing of the people. Addressing the Independence Day celebration at Polo Ground in Shillong, where he hoisted the national flag and took the Rashtriya Salute, Sangma highlighted what he described as key achievements of his government. He said every mission, infrastructure project and scheme has been built around three foundations—protecting and preserving the state’s land, empowering its people and upholding its cultural heritage. Among the initiatives highlighted were crop insurance, tourism guesthouse and taxi support, government employment opportunities for successful athletes, incentives for maintaining tree co...

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has urged the Meghalaya High Court Bar Association and the Shillong Bar Association to reconsider and withdraw their joint resolution against Meghalaya Advocate General Amit Kumar. The SCBA said the resolution was “unwarranted”, arguing that Kumar’s remarks were made during judicial proceedings in a matter that was already before the Meghalaya High Court. The two bar associations had on August 13 passed a joint resolution expelling Kumar from their rolls and seeking his removal as Advocate General. They had objected to his submissions regarding the responsibility of bar associations to ensure a safe environment for women lawyers and law interns. The SCBA said, however, that Kumar’s remarks needed to be considered in their proper context. ...

The state government is likely to begin the eviction and relocation of roadside vendors in Laitumkhrah on Monday even as protesters outside the Shillong Municipal Board office for over a week maintained that no satisfactory resolution has been reached. Sources said the drive is expected on Monday though there is no official confirmation. The Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association has been vehemently opposing the relocation, accusing authorities of sidelining genuine hawkers and violating the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. It claimed over 60 eligible vendors are yet to receive Certificates of Vending, putting their livelihoods at risk.General secretary Shane Thabah alleged that severa...