Meghalaya

Both Meghalaya and Assam are exploring ways to mitigate the flood problem at Jorabat along the inter-state border, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on Thursday. The recurring flood at Jorabat, the biggest entry point to Meghalaya from Assam, has repeatedly disrupted normal life and traffic along the border during monsoon rains and it has been a matter of concern for both the state governments. Meghalaya government is studying every aspect of the floods in the area and exploring both immediate and long-term solutions in coordination with the Assam government, Sangma said. Pointing at the bowl-like topography in the area, he said, “There is a concern because of the bowl-like structure created due to the road construction. The level below the main flyover is quite deep, which lea...

Farmers and landowners of Shnongrim village under Nongkhlieh Elaka have sought an independent inquiry into allegations that they were prevented from attending the statutory environmental public hearing for Shree Cement Company’s proposed integrated cement plant and limestone mining project at Lum Syrman. The public hearing, conducted by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) and chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner Alertson Nongbri, lasted for 46 minutes. Following the hearing, villagers submitted memorandums to the MSPCB and the East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner, with copies forwarded to the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC), seeking a fair investigation into the matter. According to the vill...

The Draft Electoral Roll for East Khasi Hills under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026 was published on Wednesday, marking a significant milestone in the electoral roll revision process. Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Abhilash Baranwal said the month-long revision exercise was completed successfully with the support of Booth Level Officers (BLOs), election officials, political parties and Booth Level Agents (BLAs). Baranwal thanked all stakeholders for their cooperation in ensuring the smooth completion of the draft roll preparation and urged electors to actively participate in the next phase of the revision process. He appealed to voters and political parties to scrutinise the draft electoral roll and submit any claims or objections during the designate...

The Centre has approved an allocation of Rs 336.62 crore for Meghalaya under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0 for the financial year 2026-27, providing a significant boost to the state's rural drinking water infrastructure programme. Public Health Engineering (PHE) Minister Marcuise Marak on Tuesday said the funds, sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, will strengthen the implementation of JJM 2.0 across the state and facilitate the clearance of at least one-third of the pending bills of contractors engaged in drinking water projects under the mission. Marak made the announcement following a meeting with Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil in New Delhi. He said the release of funds would help expedite ongoing water supply projects and improve the pace of implementatio...

The Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Shri Conrad K. Sangma, today announced the launch of Mission Clouded Leopard, the State’s flagship programme dedicated to the conservation of the Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), the State Animal of Meghalaya. The announcement was made on the occasion of International Clouded Leopard Day, observed on 4 August every year. The Mission provides an integrated framework for securing viable populations of the species across the State. It covers habitat protection and restoration, scientific research and long-term monitoring, strengthened protection measures, improved landscape connectivity, capacity building of frontline staff, community participation, public awareness, and collaboration with neighbouring North-Eastern States for landscape-level conser...

The Meghalaya High Court has directed the Bar Council of Meghalaya and the Bar Council of India to submit detailed plans within two weeks outlining measures to ensure the safety and protection of women lawyers and law interns. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W. Diengdoh issued the direction while hearing a petition related to the alleged assault of advocate AH Hazarika by members of the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF). During the hearing, the court expanded the scope of the matter to address broader concerns regarding the safety, dignity and security of women professionals and interns in the legal field. The court took note of the assurance given by the Bar Council of Meghalaya that complaint drop boxes for reporting sexual harassment...

The High Court of Meghalaya has directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to issue standing orders prohibiting political parties and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from holding press conferences or media briefings inside police stations and prisons across the state. The direction was issued by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W. Diengdoh while hearing a case concerning the alleged assault and public humiliation of a senior advocate by members of the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF). During the hearing on Monday, the court was informed that an FIR had been registered at Sadar Police Station against HNYF members in connection with the incident. Four accused have been arrested so far, while medical reports submitted before the B...

The street vendors and hawkers at Laitumkhrah in the city will be relocated to designated vending zones by August 17, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Urban Affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar said on Monday. Notices have been served to the vendors as part of an exercise taken up following a court order aimed at easing congestion on the streets. “We have served them notices. They should be shifted by August 17. There is also a court order,” Dhar told reporters in reply to a query. Department officials are in touch with the vendors to ensure a smooth transition. “We are having a dialogue and negotiating with them. It seems everything is moving in the right direction,” he said. Two designated vending zones have been identified for the hawkers at Laitumkhrah. “We have identified tw...

The Meghalaya government has imposed a prohibitory order banning roadside cooking, open fires and littering along the Shillong–Sohra–Shella Road and other public places within Sohra Civil Sub-Division to prevent environmental degradation and ensure public safety. The order, issued by Sohra Sub-Divisional Magistrate Miri Mark A. Chyne under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, follows reports of tourists and visitors cooking food at roadsides, viewpoints, parking areas and other undesignated locations. According to the order, such activities have led to indiscriminate dumping of food waste, plastic, bottles, disposable plates and packaging materials, causing pollution, attracting stray animals, obstructing traffic and affecting the natural beauty of the...

Young people across Meghalaya joined the nationwide ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan’ on Sunday by taking a collective pledge to stay away from substance abuse and contribute towards building a drug-free India. The campaign was conducted simultaneously at around 28,000 locations across the country, with the participation of more than one crore youth through virtual platforms. In Meghalaya, programmes were organised at the Lok Bhavan in Shillong and the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) campus in Ri-Bhoi. The events were connected virtually with the national launch of the campaign by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing the nation, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the important role of youth in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat and called for ...