Shillong

Former Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), P.K. Sangma, passed away on Thursday at Williamnagar Civil Hospital after a brief illness. He was undergoing treatment at the time of his death. A veteran politician from East Garo Hills, Sangma was a prominent figure in district council politics and served as a Member of the District Council (MDC). He first assumed office as the Chief Executive Member of GHADC in 2009, heading the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-led Executive Committee. In February 2011, he returned as CEM with the support of the Indian National Congress and its allies following a political realignment within the council. During his tenure, Sangma played a key role in the administration of the autonomous district council ...

The Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) has made an appeal to the President of India to amend the central mining laws to allow earlier practice of coal mining in Jaintia Hills in a regulated manner. The JHADC on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution moved by JHADC chief executive member Thombor Shiwat during a special session of the Council. The resolution called for modifications to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960, and the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015. Shiwat cited constitutional provisions, saying Paragraph 12A(b) of the Sixth Schedule empowers the President to “exempt the Autonomous Districts of Meghalaya from Parliamentary laws, or to apply them with necessary modifications as dee...

Leader of Opposition Titosstarwell Chyne on Friday raised sharp objections during the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council budget discussion, questioning the shift from surplus to deficit and opposing proposed amendments to the KHAD Regulation and Administration of Land Act. Chyne flagged the financial turnaround in just one year. “I express my concern because barely a year ago you presented a surplus budget, but this year it is a deficit budget. I don’t know the reason why, just one year after you presented a surplus budget, you now talk loudly about wasteful expenditure. That means there was wasteful expenditure which has turned the budget into a deficit,” he said. The opposition leader also targeted the Executive Committee’s proposed changes to the Land Act. He noted that S...

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday, said funding for Externally Aided Projects (EAPs) in the Northeast has increased seven-fold under the Narendra Modi government, while stressing that such projects should be viewed not merely as sources of financing but as instruments for boosting livelihoods, improving market access and driving economic transformation in the region. Addressing a conference on "Leveraging Externally Aided Projects in the Northeastern States" in Shillong, Sitharaman said central support under EAPs had risen from around Rs 9,000 crore during 2004-14 to nearly Rs 76,000 crore between 2014 and 2026. The conference was attended by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang,...

The Meghalaya government has imposed restrictions on traffic movement towards Eastern Air Command and Shillong Peak on account of Union Minsiters Nirmala Sitharaman and Rajnath Singh's visit to Kendriya Vidyalaya, EAC and Kendriya Vidyalaya AFS. According to an official programme, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will take part in the Yoga event at the Airforce, Upper Shillong on June 21 early hours. A day before on Saturday (June 20), the union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will visit the Airforce (Laitkor). Restrictions have already imposed on the movement of tourists from 7 am to 11 am. The government has already restricted the movement of tourists. The union minister is scheduled to visit PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya, EAC Headquarters, Upper Shillong. Sources...

Members of the ‘Ride to Serve Shillong’ bike taxi collective have submitted a fresh representation to Meghalaya Transport Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, seeking urgent intervention on their three-year-old request for direct, individual operating permits. In the letter addressed to the minister’s office, the riders stated that since June 24, 2023, they have repeatedly petitioned the government and transport authorities for a system that allows eligible riders to operate without being tied to any aggregator, company, or platform. They contend that individual permits would create a clear, regulated framework while protecting the livelihoods of hundreds of local youth engaged in last-mile transport. The group has asked the minister to direct the Transport Department and District Transpo...

With the aim of giving new momentum to organic agriculture-based production, the Northeast’s largest organic spice processing centre was inaugurated in Meghalaya. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated this state-of-the-art project on Friday in Ri-Bhoi district. The inaugural ceremony was held in the presence of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang. Addressing farmers, tribal leaders and local residents, Nirmala Sitharaman said that the growing global demand for organic and quality agricultural products has opened new doors of opportunity for Meghalaya. The Union Minister also remarked that the future of agriculture lies not in higher production alone, but in producing better quality, safe, environment-friendly and easil...

The long-awaited expansion of Shillong Airport in Meghalaya continues to face delays despite key approvals and the awarding of a construction contract, as aviation safety clearances remain pending. The matter has now come under the scrutiny of the Meghalaya High Court, which has expressed concern over the delay in starting on-ground work. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh noted that construction was expected to begin nearly 45 days ago. However, the mandatory safety clearance required for deployment of machinery and construction equipment has not yet been granted, preventing the project from moving into the execution phase. The court observed that further delays could impact both the project timeline and overall cost, potentially inc...

Fresh unrest has surfaced at North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), with employees of the Tura Campus launching a pen down–tool down agitation over a series of unresolved service and welfare issues. Members of the NEHU Tura Campus Staff Welfare Association assembled outside the Administrative Building on Tuesday, holding placards and banners demanding implementation of Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) orders, a review of alleged arbitrary promotion and demotion decisions, immediate release of gratuity benefits, registration under the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), and timely payment of salaries to casual employees. The protest follows a memorandum submitted to the Vice-Chancellor on June 10, in which the association expressed disappointment over what it described as the ...