Page 3 - Northeast India

Meghalaya CM eyes $16 billion economy by 2032, unveils roadmap for 2047

Meghalaya is on track to achieve its goal of becoming a USD 16 billion economy by 2032 when the state will turn 60, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on Friday. Addressing the Independence Day event here, he also said that by 2047, the year marking India's 100th year of independence, Meghalaya aims to be a USD 100 billion economy and among the country's top 10 states in per capita income state and Sustainable Development Goals. The CM also highlighted progress in law and order, including advancement in the Assam-Meghalaya border settlement, adoption of e-Sakshya, e-FIR, and expansion of forensic capabilities. "By 2047, when we celebrate 75 years of statehood, we aspire for a viksit (developed) Meghalaya', a USD 100 billion economy among India's top 10 states in per capita income and Sustainable Development Goals," he said. The state has provided over 5.39 lakh rural households with tap water connections, up from fewer than 4,500 in 2019, covering 82.84 per cent of village homes,

Guwahati airport's international terminal to be opened in Nov: CM Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that the international terminal of Guwahati airport will be opened to travellers in November this year. Sarma accompanied a delegation from Bhutan to review the progress of the construction of the new terminal on Wednesday night. "It will be opened in November and we will invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate this state-of-the-art modern infrastructure," he said. The Bhutan delegation from the Gelephu Mindful City also expressed their appreciation for the new terminal building, which will help enhance connectivity with the neighbouring country, Sarma said. "On the verge of completion, it will boost connectivity in the Northeast and also enhance connectivity for our neighbour Bhutan. Come November, get ready to fly into a whole new experience," the CM posted on X. Sarma also announced the construction of five additional foot over-bridges between Khanapara and Jalukbari in Guwahati to facilitate safe road crossing for ...

Tripura govt asks NHDCL to complete NH repair work before Durga puja

The Tripura government has asked the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) to complete the repair work of the Assam-Agartala National Highway (NH-8) before Durga puja, a senior official said on Sunday. The Durga puja, the biggest festival in the northeastern state, will commence on September 29. Following reports of the bad condition of the national highway from Kumarghat to Churaibari in Unakoti and North districts, PWD secretary Kiran Gitte, along with senior officials of NHIDCL and state PWD, visited the national highway to take stock of the situation on Saturday. Earlier, Chief Minister Manik Saha also held a meeting with officials to review the bad condition or roads, including the national highway and asked for repair works on a war footing. "On Saturday, I travelled over 400 km through the national highway from Khowai to Kamalpur and Churaribari via Manu and Kumarghat. Senior officials from NHIDCL and state PWD also accompanied me. The roa

President's rule in Manipur to be extended by 6 months amid ongoing unrest

Centre notifies extension from August 13 as ethnic tensions persist; state assembly remains in suspended animation till its term ends in 2027

ADB granted ₹975 cr loan for building infra in Tripura's 9 industrial areas

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has granted a loan amounting to Rs 975.26 crore for building infrastructure in nine industrial areas in Tripura, an official said on Monday. Tripura Industrial Development Corporation (TIDC) Chairman Nabadal Banik said building of industrial sheds, power substations, underground electric lines, fire service stations and 34 roads will be taken up under the project. "The ADB has sanctioned a loan amounting to Rs 975.26 crore to build world-class infrastructure for development in nine industrial belts in Tripura. The implementation is underway", he told PTI. Industrial areas in Bodhjungnagar, R K Nagar, Dukli and AN Nagar are among the nine zones, he said. Banik said the state government has handed over plots for setting up industrial areas at Santirbazar (127 acres) in South Tripura and Fatikroy (28 acres) in Unakoti district. "The TIDC has already begun demarcation work to undertake infrastructure building in the two new areas. We are ensuring that

Security forces continue combing ops in Manipur, several arrests made

Manipur Police also said that it continued its relentless drive to curb offences related to motor vehicles

Datanomics: Displacements in India rise due to natural disasters, conflicts

According to the data from Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, around 118,000 people were displaced by climate-induced disasters in India in 2024

Meghalaya CM seeks more funds for smaller NE states from finance commission

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma advocated for enhanced financial support to the smaller Northeastern states, citing their unique geographical, economic, and developmental challenges. Sangma took up the issue during his meeting with members of the 16th Finance Commission in New Delhi on Monday. "Our states face distinct issues related to terrain, infrastructure gaps, and limited revenue-generating capacities. We need special financial consideration to address these structural disadvantages," Sangma said at the meeting. He urged the finance commission to recommend higher fund devolution and more flexible schemes to help smaller states address critical sectors such as roads, healthcare, education, and tourism. Sangma also called for greater autonomy in the utilisation of centrally allocated funds, allowing states to design projects suited to their needs. The commission assured him that the submissions would be carefully examined. "North East States, while having their own u

Modi govt plans to invest ₹5,000 cr to develop Northeast waterways: Sonowal

He said that, over the past 11 years, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has transformed India's maritime sector with record growth in cargo handling, capacity and coastal shipping

Kaladan project between India, Myanmar to be operational by 2027: Sonowal

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday said the ambitious Kaladan project between India and Myanmar, which is aimed at reducing the Northeast's distance from the rest of the country, will be operational by 2027. Addressing a press conference here, Sonowal said the distance between Aizawl and Kolkata will be shortened by 700 km once the project is ready. "The Sittwe port (in Myanmar) is ready. Now work is going on to develop the road connectivity to Aizawl. The entire Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project will be operational by 2027," he added. Sonowal, the minister of ports, shipping and waterways, said that his ministry is investing Rs 1,000 crore in developing the waterways of the project, while other agencies are taking care of the rest. He said that the Northeastern region will play a critical role in reviving the economic prosperity of India. "PM Narendra Modi said that transformation should be done through transportation. As per his direction, we want to develop

Cong leader's reference to Sikkim as neighbouring country draws criticism

Congress leader Ajoy Kumar's reference to Sikkim as a "neighbouring country" has drawn widespread criticism from various sections of the society, including political parties, in the Himalayan state. Kumar, during a press conference on Tuesday, had referred to the state as a neighbouring country in the same frame alongside Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. However, with the issue snowballing into a controversy, the senior Congress leader on Tuesday apologised, stating it was a "slip of the tongue". "Yesterday, in my press conference on 'SAIL 400 crore scam', when I was speaking on the deteriorating relations with our neighbouring countries, I accidentally took the name of a state for which I sincerely apologise as it was just a slip of the tongue... BJP looks for small mistakes of the opposition leaders," he added. Sikkim's lone Lok Sabha MP Indra Hang Subba said Kumar's remark was "irresponsible and insulting", and a "grave affront to the people of the state, who have always stood w

Northeast has more young population than rest of country: Meghalaya CM

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has said that the northeast region has more young population than the rest of the country. Addressing the 5th Regional Catholic Youth Convention here on Friday he said, "The northeast is not just young it is younger than the rest of India". "This makes our youth not only our greatest strength but also our greatest challenge. How we nurture them will determine the destiny of Nagaland, Meghalaya, and the entire northeast," Sangma said. Emphasising the importance of purpose, goal-setting, and entrepreneurship among youth, he said that "without a goal, you could be working endlessly and achieving nothing." He said, "Reservation has made our youth complacent. We must compete not because we are guaranteed a seat, but because we can win it on merit." Calling for a cultural shift, Sangma urged the youth to believe in themselves and embrace entrepreneurship. "Why do we wait for others to start businesses in our states? Our youth should become the j

Manipur Police arrests four members of inter-state gang of arms dealers

Manipur Police arrested four members of an inter-state gang of arms dealers and seized arms and ammunition from their possession, an officer said on Wednesday. Police cracked down on an inter-state organised gang of arms smugglers and middlemen who were smuggling unauthorised arms across different states, operating clandestinely in greater Imphal area and arrested four persons including a member of UNLF (Pambei) on Tuesday, the officer said. Two 9 mm Smith & Wesson pistols, one 9 mm Sig Sauer pistol, one Glock 19 pistol with 2 magazines, one 7.65 mm JD Taurus pistol with magazine, one Falcon Cal 7.62 mm along with magazine, one M-20 Falcon pistol, one Keltec pistol .32 mm with 2 magazines, one Beretta pistol, one ?Glock pistol .32, 159 number of .32 mm live ammunition and four wireless sets were seized from their possession, he said. Meanwhile, in a separate operation, the police on Tuesday arrested three active cadres of UNLF(Pambei) from Babupara in Imphal West district. They ...

Inclusive development key to becoming global power, says Jitendra Singh

Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said inclusive development is the key to India becoming a global power. Launching the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) in Nagaland's Wokha district on Tuesday, he urged the local youth to explore technology-driven agriculture as a potential career path. The event, held at the multi-purpose hall, marked the beginning of a 15-day awareness campaign about tribal welfare schemes, covering 53 villages in seven blocks of the district, in honour of tribal icon Birsa Munda. Noting the transformation of the Northeast in the last decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, Singh said Nagaland is a key partner in India's development. He affirmed the government's commitment to inclusive development and called the "end of historical neglect one of India's biggest achievements". He reiterated that with youth participation, technology, and community collaboration, Nagaland and the rest of the Northeast would beco

5 Meitei members held in Manipur for attacking policemen, kidnapping man

Five members of the Meitei outfit Arambai Tenggol were arrested in connection with the alleged assault on two Manipur Police personnel in Bishnupur district and the kidnapping of a man in Imphal West, a senior officer said on Monday. Three members of the organisation were arrested on Sunday in connection with the kidnapping of Chesam Abdul Kadar of Paobitek Mayai Leikai area in Imphal West district, he said. The accused were produced before a court in the district and remanded to seven days of police custody, the officer said. A search operation is underway to arrest others involved in the kidnapping of the person, he said. Another member of the Meitei outfit was arrested on June 12 in connection with "the assault on a senior police officer and a police personnel". The two policemen were injured on June 9 while they were trying to disperse protesters who had come out to support the bandh called by Arambai Tenggol at Nambol Bazar in Bishnupur district. One more member of the ...

Tripura eyeing tea boom as govt support, unused land fuel expansion plans

Tripura is witnessing a big transformation in its tea sector, with large tracts of unused government-allotted land and rising production figures setting the stage for what officials are calling a tea uprising in the northeastern state. Tripura Tea Development Corporation (TTDC) Chairman Samir Ghosh said the state's tea industry holds immense potential due to underutilised land and favourable policies. Altogether 12,832 hectares were allotted by the government for tea cultivation, but only 6,000 hectares are currently being utilised. The remaining 6,832 hectares are lying vacant, Ghosh told PTI, emphasising the untapped potential for expanding cultivation. Unlike several other states that cap tea garden land at 4.2 hectares, Tripura imposes no ceiling, allowing both large-scale and small-scale growers to flourish. That gives Tripura a clear competitive edge. Plus, Tripura tea has a very strong liquor it's one of our biggest strengths, Ghosh said. Currently, Tripura has 54 tea gard

Protests against arrest of Arambai Tenggol leader continues in Manipur

Manipur continued to witness protests as demonstrators defied prohibitory orders and clashed with security forces across several districts of Imphal valley demanding the unconditional release of the arrested Arambai Tenggol leader Kanan Singh and four others, police said on Tuesday. Clashes erupted in Khurai Lamlong area of Imphal East district on Monday night, prompting security personnel to fire several rounds of tear gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. At least one four-wheeler was reportedly torched by the protesters, police said. Protests, such as roadblocks and burning of tyres, were also held in Thoubal and Kakching districts. Tensions also flared in Tera area of Imphal West district on Monday evening when unidentified miscreants fired at security forces. "At least seven rounds from small firearms were fired in Tera area when CRPF personnel were clearing roadblocks put up by protesters. Paramilitary forces along with state police rushed to carry out search .

Meghalaya honeymoon horror: Accused wife produced in Ghazipur court

An Indore-based woman accused of hiring men to get her husband killed while on honeymoon in Meghalaya surrendered before Uttar Pradesh Police in Ghazipur on Monday, while another accused man was arrested from Lalitpur district, police said. Sonam Raghuvanshi (24), who has been accused of orchestrating the murder of her husband Raja Raghuvanshi, was produced before a local court in Ghazipur on Monday night for transit remand permission, following which she was expected to be taken into custody by a Meghalaya Police team that reached here in the evening. The court proceedings continued till late in the night. Earlier in the day, Meghalaya DGP I Nongrang said Raja Raghuvanshi, an Indore-based transport businessman whose body was found a week back in Meghalaya, was allegedly killed by men hired by his wife Sonam. Apart from Sonam, police have arrested three men -- Akash Rajput from Lalitpur and two others from Indore -- in connection with the case. A total of five persons have been ..

Assam flood situation improves; ferry services to resume on Brahmaputra

The flood situation in Assam continued to improve with the affected population and area decreasing to around 3.37 lakh in 12 districts respectively, officials said on Sunday. An official bulletin said that the total death toll in this year's floods and landslides is at 23, including six killed in mudslides, till Saturday. Major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, were on a receding trend, though a few of these continued to flow above the danger mark. Following this, ferry services which had been suspended since last week will be partially restored over the Brahmaputra during the day. The Brahmaputra was flowing over the danger level at Dhubri, Kopili at Dharamtul, Barak at BP Ghat and Kushiyara at Sribhumi till Saturday evening. A total of 3,37,358 people in 41 circles and 999 villages in 12 districts remained affected by the deluge, with Sribhumi the worst-hit where over 1.93 lakh people are reeling under floods. In Hailakandi, 73,724 remained affected and in Cachar, 56,398 are s

Sikkim govt rescues stranded tourists, locals, and taxi drivers in Chaten

The helicopter sortie began this morning from the Pakyong Greenfield Airport, with the first sortie taking off towards Chaten to initiate the evacuation process