Page 7 - 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.

Meghalaya HC grants bail to BJP leader accused of running sex racket

The Meghalaya High Court on Saturday granted conditional bail to jailed state BJP leader Bernard N Marak, accused of running a sex racket at his farmhouse in the northeastern state. Marak was granted bail on the condition that he shall not abscond or tamper with evidence or leave the country and should cooperate with the investigation. He was also asked to furnish a personal bond of Rs 50,000 along with two solvent sureties of the like amount. The accused person, Bernard N Marak, is hereby directed to be released on bail, if not wanted in some other cases, provided the following conditions are complied with, Justice W Diengdoh said in the court order. Marak's wife L K Gracy had moved the bail application on Friday. The high court was content that Marak is the owner of the property, but expressed doubt whether there is enough evidence to point out that the place was used as a brothel. From the statement of the witnesses and the materials on record, there is insufficient evidence t

Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma virtually inaugurates 50 upgraded schools

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma virtually inaugurated 50 lower primary and upper primary schools that were recently upgraded with modern facilities under an infrastructure improvement scheme of his government. Each of these upgraded schools have been equipped with a library, adequate furniture, common rooms and proper toilets, among other facilities Sangma, on the occasion, said more schools would be taken up in phases for the renovation and modernisation programme in the days to come. He also said that the initiative will have a positive impact on the entire education system. There are a large number of schools waiting to get upgraded. We will be taking them up in a phased manner. The programme will also be extended to secondary and higher secondary schools," the CM said on Thursday. He gave assurance that another 100 renovated schools will be readied for inauguration over the next three months. Referring to NIPUN Bharat Mission (National Initiative for Proficiency in .

1,652 illegal coal transportation cases registered in Meghalaya: CM

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday said 1,652 cases related to illegal transportation of coal have been registered in the state. Of the 1,652 cases registered till August 31, chargesheets have been submitted in 1,354 cases and 472 people have been convicted, the chief minister said while replying to a call attention motion in the Meghalaya Assembly. He said as many as 109 cases have also been registered against illegal mining and extraction of coal, of which chargesheets have been submitted in 108 cases and 103 people have been convicted. The chief minister informed the House that drone surveillance has also been undertaken by the police to prevent illegal mining. About the recent accident at a coal mine in West Khasi Hills district in which two miners died and one person was injured, Sangma said one Hubert Sangma clandestinely operated the mine located in a remote area. The coal mine owner has been arrested and an investigation is on, he said. An ex-gratia of R

People hinted at elevation as VP if stopped speaking against govt: Malik

Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik on Saturday claimed that people had indicated that he would be made vice president if he stopped speaking against the Centre. "I already had indications that you will be made (vice president) if you don't speak, but I don't do this, I speak what I feel," he said when asked about the elevation of Jagdeep Dhankhar, whom he described as a "deserving". He also praised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for taking out the "Bharat Jodo Yatra". Gandhi is working for his party and it is good, Malik said. When asked about what message the yatra has given, Malik said, "I do not know this. It is for the people to tell but I feel he is doing the right work." On the Enforcement Directorate's raids on the leaders of opposition parties, Malik said raids on BJP leaders should also be conducted. "There are many in the BJP worth raiding," he commented. When asked about his reaction on changing the name of Rajpath in the national capital, he said it was not needed. He

CM Sangma launches 'Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act' portal

The Meghalaya government launched a multi-purpose online portal, Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), to ensure the safety and security of the residents

FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2022 legacy initiative kicks off in Shillong

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong, Meghalaya, is hosting a FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2022 legacy initiative, the Coach Education Scholarship Programme

BJP can withdraw support from Meghalaya's MDA govt: State party in-charge

BJP's National Vice-President and party's Meghalaya in-charge M Chuba Ao said that the party may withdraw support from the NPP-led MDA government within a month

Meghalaya CM launches Rs 121 crore water supply project in East Garo Hills

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma laid the foundation stone for the construction of an water supply project in Williamnagar in the East Garo Hills district. The Williamnagar Urban Water Supply Project Phase-I was sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 121 crore, officials said. The scheme, which will benefit over 56,000 people, was sanctioned under AMRUT 2.0 by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and it will cater to the water demand of the town till 2050, they said. The chief minister thanked the Centre for sanctioning the project, stating that water supply projects worth Rs 2,000 crore are currently being implemented in the state. Proposals for water supply projects worth Rs 3,000 crore are under the advanced stage of consideration by the Centre, he added. Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Kaushal Kishore was also present at the programme on Thursday. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working to take every state forward.

Meghalaya CM launches 'Rural Backyard Piggery Scheme' for farmers' welfare

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the state's "Progress" scheme aims to ensure that the farmers earn a sustainable livelihood through different livestock farming activities

Meghalaya polls: NPP will not form alliance with any party, says CM Sangma

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Saturday said the NPP will not forge an alliance with any party, including the BJP, for the upcoming assembly elections in the state. However, the National People's Party (NPP) will continue to remain in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre, Sangma said, adding that the two parties are ideologically not on the same page on various issues. Elections in Meghalaya are likely to be held early next year. "We are not going to contest next assembly elections in alliance with anyone, including the BJP," Sangma, who is the president of the NPP, told reporters here after the party's national conference. Sangma said the NPP has never had any pre-poll alliance with any party in any state, and underlined that the party would also contest the upcoming assembly polls in Odisha and Chhattisgarh on its own. However, he also maintained that NPP will remain focussed on the state election in Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram and ..