SHILLONG: The Travelling International Uranium Film Festival India 2013 has chosen Shillong as one of the cities to showcase films on the different aspect of Uranium mining and Nuclear Energy in the world.

This two-day event will be inaugurated tomorrow in the city. International Uranium Film Festival is a global event organised by the Uranium Film Festival in Rio de Janerio, Brazil and in India it is being held in collaboration with an Indian filmmaker Shriprakash.

SHILLONG: Despite the guidelines related to the safety and security of miners stipulated in the Meghalaya Mines and Minerals Policy, 2012, no scrutiny is being undertaken by the concerned authorities to ensure the safety and welfare of the miners.

Considering that there are frequent deaths and injuries to the mine workers including the recent case of deaths of five miners in Jaintia Hills, there is a ‘grey area’ in the mining policy as nothing specifically is mentioned about the compensation to be paid to the mine workers in case of accidents.

Approximately 39 per cent of the land under nine cement plants in Meghalaya has been found to be a ‘forest’ area, a report by a team formed after a directive from the Supreme Court has indicated.

The joint inspection team (JIT) was constituted in July 2011 for a probe into alleged violation of environmental norms by the cement plants. The JIT comprises additional principal chief conservator of forest (MoEF) BN Jha and Meghalaya chief conservator of forest CP Marak besides officials from government departments, local tribal councils and the cement plants concerned.

Shillong: Meghalaya has tried not once or twice but repeatedly to ban plastic carry bags but the effort has failed miserably. As a result every drain, stream and river are filled with plastic bags and plastic packages which contain a variety of junk food such as potato chips which are laden with trans-fat but which the younger generation is addicted to.

Environmentalists despair about the manner in which drains get choked and rivers are polluted by garbage which comprises mainly plastic bags and packages of different shapes and sizes. When these are clogged over a long period they emit methane gas which scientists say poisons the environment.

SHILLONG, Dec 28: During the five years period from 2006-2011, only 35 villages in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya were electrified.

NONGSTOIN: The proposed plan for construction of a dam at Khri river near Kyrshai in West Khasi Hills District by the Assam State Electricity Board was vehemently opposed in a public meeting at Kyr

SHILLONG: The Megh-alaya People’s Environment Rights Forum (MPERF) has urged Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary to keep on hold his assent to the Meghalaya Forest Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2012,

Close to 50 per cent of the land under nine cement plants in Meghalaya are “forest”, said a report of the Joint Inspection Team (JIT) constituted under the directive of the Supreme Court.

SHILLONG: The Megh-alaya People’s Environment Rights Forum (MPERF) has urged Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary to keep on hold his assent to the Meghalaya Forest Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2012, which was passed by the State Assembly recently.

In a representation submitted to the Governor on Wednesday, the MPERF requested that the Amendment Bill be sent back to the state government for a ‘detailed deliberation’. The representation also stressed on seeking opinion from technical, legal experts and conservationists besides the general public before deciding either in favour or against the amendment.

SHILLONG: The Megh-alaya Forest Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2012 has come under scanner for its definition of ‘forest’. The Bill was passed on the last day of the Winter Session of the State Assembly on Friday.

The environmentalists have pointed out that the Bill does not have any retrospective effect and is aimed at giving free hand to destroy the forest cover to divert it to non-forest activities.