SHILLONG: Despite having huge potentials of generating solar energy in the state, yet not even point one per cent has been exploited so far, claimed experts.

“The potential of renewable energy source in the state is about 3669 MW”, Director of the Meghalaya Non-Conventional and Rural Energy Development Agency (MNREDA), John Rodborne said. Rodborne was delivering a speech at a one-day workshop on ‘Tourism and sustainable energy: sustainable development’ organised by the tourism department of Martin Luther Christian University (MLCU) as part of the World Tourism Day celebration at Brookdene Hall in city on Thursday.

SHILLONG: Despite the government initiating several measures to curb the menace of tobacco and other allied products, the tobacco consumption is increasing every year in the State.

“The scenario in Shillong is very bad as far as tobacco consumption is concerned and as per reports Meghalaya is ranked third among the north eastern states with over 65 per cent of tobacco users”, President of the Rotary Club of Orchid City Dr C Varghese said.

SHILLONG: Notwithstanding widespread opposition from various corners, Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary has advocated the need for Uranium mining which according to him would benefit the State immensely in terms of power generation.

“Uranium is an important natural resource since it is a critical source for generation of power,” Mooshahary said while addressing a national seminar on ‘Mining: impact assessment on the economy, ecology, technology, polity and society’ organised by Sankardev College and BBS College here on Thursday

NONGPOH: Land owners and the Umden Dorbar Pyllun have joined hands to pressurise the State Government to release the compensation package for the land owners affected by the Shillong Airport expans

Plans to install 4180 LEDs,
CFLs across Shillong city

SHILLONG: The Urban Affairs department is currently in the process of identifying locations for installation of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) in the city. It may be mentioned that the State Government has mulled to install 4180 street lights to illuminate the city.

SHILLONG: The joint inspection committee, constituted by the State Government whether the cement plants established in Jaintia Hills had in actuality flouted environmental norms, has submitted its report.

According to an official source, though the Committee submitted its report to the State Government on August 31, the latter is yet to initiate any action against the cement plants based on the report.

JOWAI: Unauthorised checking of labour licenses by certain NGOs in Jaintia hills have badly affected coal mine owners, who have claimed that such checking has led to shortage of manpower in their respective mines.

Coal traders allege that checking of labour license and other documents of inter-state migrant labourers has not only affected the coal trade but has also become a harassment for both coal traders and migrant labourers.

NONGPOH: Over hundreds of land owners have set September 30 deadline for the State Government to release the compensation for the land which the Airport Authority of India (AAI) had acquired for expansion of Umroi Airport.

The land owners from Umden Mission along with the leaders of Seng Samla Umroi Pyllun and the representative of Dorbar Shnong Umden took this decision in a meeting held at Umden Mission Community Hall, Umroi, on Tuesday.

Shillong: The traditional chiefs of Meghalaya have called upon Union Power minister, M Veerappa Moily, to accelerate the process of complete electrification in Meghalaya.

In a memorandum submitted to the Union Power Minister during his visit to the city on Monday, the chairman of the traditional chiefs of Meghalaya, JF Kharshiing, mentioned that introduction of innovative measures and flexibility in the State would help rural land and home owners to generate their own solar/ hydro electricity to be able to sell it back to the grid, as done in many countries today.

SHILLONG: The HSPDP on Thursday asked the State Government to revoke the order on declaring parts of West Khasi Hills as an elephant reserve.

The Central Executive Committee of HSPDP which met on Thursday took a serious note on the notification issued by the Forest department in this regard. The general secretary of HSPDP, EK Raswai, said after the meeting that as the land belongs to the people, the Government cannot away take the rights of people.