Page 2 - Conrad Sangma

Mob attacks BSF outpost in Meghalaya, 5 injured; CM says keeping watch

At least five people, including two BSF personnel, were injured when villagers attacked a border outpost in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district, officials said on Monday. The incident took place at Umsyiem village near Dawki town, 100 km south of the state capital, on Sunday night after the border guards seized some clothes allegedly meant to be smuggled to Bangladesh. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the situation in the area close to the international border is under control and the state government is keeping a close watch on the development. BSF Meghalaya Frontier inspector general Pradip Kumar told PTI: In the last few days, we seized a number of items meant to be smuggled to Bangladesh and identified the smugglers. Due to this, they led a mob to attack the outpost forcing the BSF to retaliate by firing in the air. In a statement, the BSF said they seized clothes worth over Rs 2.7 lakh meant for smuggling. The BSF foiled two smuggling bids on Sunday. In the morning, the

Over 40,000 youths dependent on drugs need empathy, says Meghalaya CM

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said that altogether 40,500 youths of the state are now dependent on narcotic drugs and they need to be treated with empathy so that they become responsible citizens. Sangma highlighted the state's ambitious Drug Reduction, Elimination and Action Mission (DREAM), a Rs 10 crore programme aimed at eliminating substance abuse by leveraging the participation of communities and religious bodies and coordinating strategies. The state government is making concerted efforts to ensure that Meghalaya becomes a drug-free state. We need to ensure that the 40,500 youth who are totally dependent on drugs are treated with empathy and taken care of so that they can integrate back into society as responsible and productive citizens, he said. The chief minister was addressing the state-level awareness programme on the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Sangma said that observing the Day is part of a larger plan to ensure

Take all measures to restore normalcy in Manipur: Meghalaya CM urges Centre

Sangma made the appeal at a meeting called by Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, to address the concerning situation in Manipur

Assam, Meghalaya CMs scheduled to meet today to discuss border disputes

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad Sangma are scheduled to meet here on Wednesday to hold further discussions on resolving border disputes between the two states in six remaining areas. The chief ministers of both the states are also likely to visit the disputed areas later as a goodwill gesture, officials said. Meghalaya was carved out of Assam as a separate state in 1972 and it had challenged the Assam Reorganisation Act, 1971, leading to disputes in 12 areas of the 884.9 km long border between the two states. Sarma on assuming the Chief Minister's office in May, 2021 had announced that his priority was to resolve long-standing boundary disputes with neighbouring states. Subsequently, three regional Committees were set up in August 2021 to resolve the issues in a phased manner. The regional committees submitted their recommendations which were handed over to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi by the two chief ministers, followed

Meghalaya has more schools, teachers than other NE states: CM Conrad Sangma

Meghalaya has close to 14,000 schools and over 55,000 teachers, significantly higher than other small states in the Northeast region, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on Tuesday. The state incurs an annual expenditure of almost Rs 2,200 crore for these institutions, the chief minister said while addressing the centenary celebration of Jaiaw Presbyterian Higher Secondary School here. According to Sangma, the expenditure is not enough and Meghalaya needs to strive harder to be among the top-performing states in the country's education sector. He announced that an Education Commission will be set up soon to look into all aspects of improving the education sector in the state. During the function, the chief minister also announced a grant of Rs 20 lakh from the Chief Minister's Special Development Fund for expansion of the school building.

Meghalaya govt issues helpline for their students studying in Manipur

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma called an urgent meeting on Thursday to ensure the safety of students from Meghalaya following reports of violence in Manipur.In the meeting attended by senior government officials, the CM highlighted that the safety of all students must be ensured. He also directed the officials to come up with a plan for the evacuation of students if the situation arises.Sangma said that over 200 residents of Meghalaya are studying in Manipur and that the Government is putting in place a helpline for students or family members to reach out to in case of emergencies.The Army asked people to be careful about fake videos."Fake Videos on the security situation in Manipur including a video of an attack on Assam Rifles post being circulated by inimical elements for vested interests. #IndianArmy requests all to rely on content through official & verified sources only," the Spear Corps, indian Army said in a tweet.Earlier in the day, Manipur Chief Minister N ...

Coal mining to resume in Meghalaya after 9 years, says CM Conrad Sangma

Coal mining is set to resume in Meghalaya after nine years, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on Wednesday. He said the Union Ministry of Coal has provided approval for mining lease to four license applicants that would lead to the commencement of scientific mining ensuring minimal environmental impact through sustainable and legally compliant extraction procedures. "In a significant step towards initiating scientific coal mining, the Ministry of Coal had last month provided approval for mining lease to four applicants out of the 17 prospecting license applicants," Sangma told PTI. He said the mining will follow scientific procedures ensuring minimal environmental impact through sustainable and legally compliant extraction procedures. According to the chief minister, as part of scientific mining, reclamation of coal mining areas and use of advanced technologies such as remote sensing, aerial surveys and 3D modelling would be prioritised and environmental impact would be mitigated

Economic empowerment of women is of paramount concern: Meghalaya CM

Through the Self Help Group (SHG) movement, the government is ensuring that the women become financially independent, he said

NE's largest multipurpose indoor stadium being built in Shillong: Sangma

He said that the indoor stadium would have facilities for different disciplines such as basketball, squash, badminton, table tennis, volleyball among others

Meghalaya-Assam official talks on border row to begin soon: Conrad Sangma

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Tuesday said that the official talks with Assam on the remaining six areas of border disputes will begin soon this year

Govt looking for private investors to run MCCL in PPP mode: Conrad K Sangma

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday told the Assembly that despite infusing Rs 350 crore of funds, the state's oldest cement company MCCL could not be revived forcing the government to look for private investors to run it in a PPP mode. The Mawmluh Cherra Cement Ltd (MCCL) is the oldest public sector undertaking unit and is the only state-owned cement plant set up in the early 1960s (then undivided Assam) in limestone rich Sohra but has lately suffered making it a loss-making enterprise. "Since 2006 till date, Rs 350 crore has been infused into the Mawmluh Cherra Cement Limited and in the last five years alone Rs 100 crore has been infused, mostly to pay salaries and other dues," the CM said during Question Hour. "With so much investment, we are not able to revive it. For the government to continue investing in it may not be possible," he said, adding that the PPP mode is what the government is eyeing presently. Stating that the government is pushed to "look at ...

Question Amit Shah: Jairam to CBI over Sangma govt corruption remarks

Congress MP of Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh in a letter to the Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, asked the CBI to question Home Minister Amit Shah further on his categorical assertion

Conrad Sangma chairs first cabinet meeting of MDA 2.0, approves 2 bills

The first cabinet meeting of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance 2.0 government on Thursday approved a bill to formally repeal the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma chaired the cabinet meeting which also approved an amendment of the contingency fund bill 2023, an ordinance of which was approved by the cabinet earlier this year. "We have now brought both the ordinances in the form of bills which would be ratified in the upcoming budget session," the CM told PTI after chairing the first cabinet meeting here. The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly will resume on March 20 for the budget session, the CM said. He said the cabinet has also appointed three spokespersons apart from himself. "Apart from myself and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, the cabinet has also approved proposals to have ministers Ampareen Lyngdoh, Marcuise and Paul Lyngdoh as official spokespersons of the cabinet," the CM said. The chief minister also informed that the portfol

Conrad Sangma sworn in as Meghalaya CM, to focus on sectors creating jobs

National People's Party (NPP) president Conrad K Sangma was sworn in as chief minister of Meghalaya on Tuesday along with 11 members of his council of ministers. Sangma, who became the chief minister of the northeastern state for the second time in a row, said his focus will be on sectors that can provide large-scale employment. Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, both from the NPP, took oath as deputy chief ministers, underlining the strength of the regional party in the rainbow coalition which has come to power again. Tynsong was the deputy CM in the previous government as well. The BJP's Alexander Laloo Hek, UDP's Paul Lyngdoh and Kyrmen Shylla, and Shakliar Warjri of the HSPDP also took oath as ministers. In all, eight MLAs from the NPP, two from the UDP and one each from the BJP and the HSPDP were administered the oath of office and secrecy as ministers by Governor Phagu Chauhan at Raj Bhavan. According to the rule, Meghalaya with a 60-member assembly cannot have more tha

NPP's Conrad Sangma takes oath as Meghalaya CM, cabinet sworn-in

NPP president Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday took oath as the chief minister of Meghalaya for the second consecutive term. Seven other MLAs from the National People's Party (NPP), two from the UDP and one each from BJP and HSPDP were also administered the oath of secrecy as ministers in Sangma's cabinet by Governor Phagu Chauhan at Raj Bhavan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president J P Nadda and Assam Chief Minister and NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma were among those present on the occasion. Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, both from the NPP, took oath as deputy chief ministers. Marcuise N Marak, Rakkam A Sangma, Ampareen Lyngdoh, Comingone Ymbon and A T Mondal were among those from the NPP who were sworn-in as cabinet ministers. BJP's A L Hek, UDP's Paul Lyngdoh and Kyrmen Shylla, and Shakliar Warjri of the HSPDP also took oath as ministers.

New Meghalaya cabinet to have 8 NPP ministers, says Conrad Sangma

National People's Party (NPP) president Conrad K Sangma on Monday said his party will have eight ministers in the next Meghalaya government headed by him, while its allies will get four ministerial berths. The NPP's ally UDP will have two ministers, while the BJP and the Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) will get one each, Sangma who is the outgoing chief minister told reporters after a meeting with alliance partners. According to the rule, Meghalaya with a 60-member assembly cannot have more than 12 ministers including the CM. The NPP president, who is scheduled to take oath as the chief minister on Tuesday, has the support of 45 legislators. Sangma staked claim to form the government in the northeastern state. During the meeting of allies of the NPP-led coalition, the first decision that was unanimously taken was to call it the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance 2.0 since partners are the same. The chief minister will be the chairman of the alliance, Sangma said. The ...

PM to attend swearing-in ceremony of MDA 2.0 govt in Meghalaya on Tuesday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and his cabinet colleagues on Tuesday, officials said. Sangma, the National Peoples Party chief will take the oath of office as chief minister for the second time on Tuesday after successfully leading his party to a major victory bagging 26 of the 59 seats in the February 27 election. "All preparations are on for the Prime Minister's visit tomorrow. He will attend the swearing-in ceremony of the chief minister and his cabinet members at the Raj Bhavan," a senior government official told PTI. Security has been beefed up in the city ahead of the visit. The NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance with 32 MLAs has staked claim to form the next government in the northeastern state. NPP will take eight cabinet berths and allies UDP with 11 MLAs will get two, BJP and HSPDP with two MLAs each will get one berth each, Sangma said. Earlier in the day protem speaker Timothy D Shira administered

UDP, PDF extends support to Conrad Sangma's NPP to form govt in Meghalaya

Ahead of the formation of the new government in Meghalaya, UDP and People's Democratic Front (PDF) have extended their support to the National People's Party (NPP) to form the government

Conrad Sangma stakes claim to form Meghalaya govt, oath ceremony on March 7

The govt formation process in Meghalaya has once again taken a U-turn as Conrad Sangma claimed that his party has 32 MLAs and has received a letter from the Governor inviting him to form govt

Swearing-in-ceremony of Meghalaya's NPP-led govt likely on Tuesday

NPP chief Conrad Sangma is likely to take oath as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya on March 7