Page 14 - Meghalaya

Meghalaya-Assam border firing: Offices in Shillong shut; vehicles stranded

The state government has deployed additional central and state forces in various sensitive and important locations and installations

Assam continues 'advisory' against travel to Meghalaya amid border row

Assam on Friday continued to 'advise' people from the state not to travel to Meghalaya as the "situation is not very good" following a clash in a disputed border area between the two neighbouring states in which six persons were killed four days ago. Transportation of fuel from Assam to the hill state has also been stopped by the apex petroleum workers' body since Thursday following reports of attacks on vehicles from the state in Meghalaya, though other vehicles ferrying goods continued to cross the border. The situation at the clash site in West Karbi Anglong district continued to remain tense but under control with security forces ensuring no further flare-ups, official sources said. Restrictions under CrPC section 144 also remained in force in the area, they added. "Yesterday in Shillong, public burnt police vehicles. The situation is not very good. That's why we are advising people not to travel, especially people from Assam," Deputy Commissioner (East) of Guwahati Police ...

Shah assures CBI probe into border firing, as fresh violence hits Shillong

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Thursday said Union Home Minister Amit Shah has given firm assurances at a meeting held in Delhi of acting on his request for a CBI probe into the "firing by Assam Police" along the states' border. However, even as the meeting unfolded in the national capital, mob anger over alleged shooting of tribal villagers from the state by Assam police spilled over on to the streets of the picturesque hill resort of Shillong. A police bus and a jeep were torched as stones and petrol bombs flew thick and fast. Seven people, including four police personnel, were injured in the clash that broke out between the angry protesters and the police, Superintendent of Police (City) Vivek Syiem told PTI. Protestors were demonstrating against the shooting of five tribal villagers by Assam police in the early hours of Tuesday at Mukroh, in West Jaintia Hills on the disputed Assam-Meghalaya border. The home ministry spokesperson later tweeted that Shah has assured

Mamata Banerjee voices anguish over violence on Meghalaya-Assam border

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday expressed anguish over the violence at a disputed Assam-Meghalaya border location that killed six people a day before and prayed for peace there. Six people, including a forest guard, were killed in the violence in the early hours of Tuesday after a truck allegedly laden with illegally felled timber was intercepted by forest personnel from Assam. "I am gravely anguished by the tragic instance of firing at Mukroh, Meghalaya, that claimed lives of 6 people. I express my heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in this conflict. I earnestly pray that peace and calm prevails for the greater good," Banerjee said on Twitter. Notably, Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that the incident showed the 'ineptitude' of the Meghalaya government. Expressing shock over the incident, the TMC MP tweeted, "I am shocked and deeply saddened by the extremely unfortunate firing .

Border firing: Assam disagrees with Meghalaya CM Sangma on jurisdiction

Rebutting Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma's claim, the Assam government has said that the firing incident at Mukhrow village that killed six people falls within the territory of the state

Six killed in violence in Assam-Meghalaya border; police on alert

Four persons, including a forest guard, were killed in violence at the Assam-Meghalaya border in West Karbi Anglong district in the early hours of Tuesday after a truck transporting illegal timber was intercepted, officials said. Following the incident, the Assam police sounded an alert in all the districts bordering Meghalaya to thwart any possible law and order situation, another official said. The Assam forest department team intercepted and stopped the truck at Mukru area carrying the illegal timber towards West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya around 3 am, West Karbi Anglong superintendent of police Imdad Ali told PTI. As the truck tried to flee, the forest guards fired at it and deflated a tyre. The vehicle's driver and handyman and another person were then apprehended, though others managed to escape, he said. Police reinforcements were rushed to the spot when the forest guards contacted Zirikending police station. After the police reached the spot, a large number of peo

BSF seizes 1,025 bottles of Phensedyl cough syrup on Meghalaya border

As many as 1,025 bottles of Phensedyl cough syrup, which was meant to be smuggled to Bangladesh, were seized by the Border Security Force (BSF) from the International border.

If it comes to power, TMC will not control Meghalaya from Bengal: Banerjee

Abhishek Banerjee announced that former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma would be the party's chief ministerial face in the upcoming polls.

Second round of Assam-Meghalaya border talks likely by November-end: Sangma

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the second round of discussions with Assam for resolving the border dispute is likely to start by the end of this month. Assam and Meghalaya identified 12 disputed areas at the inter-state border. In the first round, the two Northeastern states resolved differences in six areas and signed an agreement in March. "Within November we should be able to have the official talks (for the six remaining areas)," Sangma told reporters after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. The background work has already started for the remaining six areas, and different committees formed on the issue are coordinating, he said. "We should be able to have the first round of meeting with all the regional committees, and hopefully we will be able to initiate the talks of the second phase this month," he said. Noting that he recently spoke to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on the issue, Sangma said the two states will be able to hold the talks once the Nort

As Meghalaya, Nagaland head for elections, there is unrest in the air

When pundits are sceptical about Naga peace talks but all parties are united in seeking resolution of the issue before assembly polls, ethnic troubles may cause the situation to heat up in Meghalaya

Assam, Meghalaya to work jointly to transform Umiam lake: CM Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that Assam and Meghalaya will work with the Indian Army to transform the Umiam lake into a world-class venue for aquatic sports

Meghalaya's lofty female LPR

Meghalaya and Tripura top in terms of the labour participation rate and the employment rate. At over 60%, Meghalaya has the highest LPR

Meghalaya inks MoU with Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for MSME borrowers

The Meghalaya government on Friday signed an MoU with the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGFTMSE) to help facilitate flow of credit to MSME borrowers. The MoU between the state Finance department and the CGTMSE under the Ministry of MSME was signed to implement the 'Meghalaya Credit Guarantee Scheme', a statement issued by the department said. This MoU will strengthen the credit delivery system and facilitate flow of credit to the MSE sector, it added. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma who was present during the signing of the MoU emphasized that such interventions by the state government is part of the overall objective of encouraging and promoting entrepreneurship in the state. Currently, the loans taken by MSME borrowers are covered under Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) against a risk coverage of 75 per cent of the loan amount under various MSME schemes. However, banks still perceive their portion of risk a

Efforts on to support families affected by cyclone Sitrang in Meghalaya: CM

With Cyclone Sitrang leaving a trail of destruction in Meghalaya, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has said that efforts are being made to ensure all support to the affected families. The chief minister said he had reviewed the situation in the northeastern state in the aftermath of the cyclone at a meeting attended by deputy commissioners of all 12 districts. The revenue and disaster management departments are working full swing and efforts are being made to provide all support to the affected families. All deputy commissioners are working to ensure as much relief as possible to those hit by the cyclone, he said on Wednesday. Cyclone Sitrang had hurtled through the state in the early hours of Tuesday damaging hundreds of houses and uprooting electric poles. The accompanying rain triggered flash floods that destroyed paddy and potato crops. Stating that the power supply has been hit in the state by the cyclonic storm, he said the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited is working to ...

Ordinance to repeal gaming act to be passed in cabinet, says Meghalaya CM

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday said that an ordinance to repeal the gaming act in the state will "be introduced and passed in the next cabinet meeting". The government decided to repeal the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act (MRGA), 2021, earlier in the month, following stiff opposition by churches and social organisations. "An ordinance (to repeal the gambling act) will be brought and passed in the next cabinet meeting," he told reporters on the sidelines of a programme, when asked about the procedure that would be followed to revoke the law. The chief minister had on October 14 said that any Act can be repealed through an ordinance and this is the procedure that will be followed for the gaming act. The MRGA, passed in the Assembly last year, sought to promote setting up of casinos and gaming parlours in the state to promote tourism and generate revenue.

Efforts on to support families affected by Sitrang in Meghalaya: CM Sangma

With Cyclone Sitrang leaving behind a trail of destruction in Meghalaya, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma Wednesday said efforts are being made to ensure all support to the affected families. The chief minister said he had reviewed the situation in the state in the aftermath of the cyclone at a meeting attended by deputy commissioners of all the 12 districts. The revenue and disaster management departments are working full swing and efforts are being made to provide all support to the affected families. All deputy commissioners are working to ensure as much relief as possible to those hit by the cyclone, he said. Sitrang had hurtled through the state in the early hours of Tuesday damaging hundreds of houses and uprooting electric poles. The accompanying rains triggered flash floods that have destroyed paddy and potato crops. Stating that power supply has been hit in the state by the cyclonic storm, he said the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited is working to restore them on a ...

Meghalaya signs agreement with NEEPCO to commission hydro power plants

The Meghalaya government on Tuesday signed an agreement with the state owned North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) for commissioning of three hydro electric projects

Cyclone Sitrang: Meghalaya on high alert, schools closed in four districts

Disaster Management Authorities in Meghalaya have been kept on high alert as Cyclone Sitrang is likely to bring heavy rain in many parts of the state, officials said on Sunday. In at least four districts bordering Bangladesh, the administration directed the authorities to keep all educational institutes shut on Tuesday in view of the cyclone. The districts are East and West Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills, and South West Khasi Hills. Other districts were directed to keep all field officers alert at all times, monitor the situation and report in case of emergency, the officials said. The IMD forecast is generally cloudy sky with continuous rain in many parts of Meghalaya on Tuesday. The National Highway Authority of India has been directed to keep its manpower and machines ready for any emergency requirement in any part of the state, a senior official of the state disaster management authority said. The entire northeastern state experienced light to moderate rainfall throughout Mo

Experts to prepare plan for restoring polluted water bodies in Meghalaya

A 10-member expert committee headed by Meghalaya Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) B K Lyngwa will soon come up with an action plan for restoration of polluted water bodies in the northeastern state. The committee constituted in June in compliance with a High Court order to advise the state government on measures for restoration and protection of water bodies in the state, will advise the state government on latest technology and methods to be used for cleaning and rejuvenation of water bodies. After chairing the second meeting of the committee, Lyngwa said on Thursday, "We are in the process of formulating the action plan. The question of funding will come later on." The action plan will be site specific to every river and will cover the whole state except those water bodies in the wildlife protected areas, reserved forests and water-bodies dealt with by the State Wetland Authority and River Rejuvenation Committee and the fish ponds, he said. The major rivers of Meghal

Former Brigadier BD Mishra takes oath as Meghalaya governor in Shillong

BD Mishra on Tuesday took oath as the new governor of Meghalaya at a function in the Raj Bhavan here. Mishra, the former brigadier of the Indian Army, has been serving as the Arunachal Pradesh governor since 2017 and was given the additional charge of neighbouring Meghalaya. He succeeded Satya Pal Malik who completed his term as the Meghalaya governor on October 3. Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh and senior cabinet ministers were present at the function. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma welcomed the new governor to the state. "Congratulations and best wishes to @BrigMishraJi as he takes charge as the Governor of Meghalaya. Look forward to his counsel and support....We welcome him to our beautiful state!" he wrote on Twitter.