SHILLONG: The State Government’s draft mining policy, which has emphasized on scientific and sustainable mining practices in the State, has not put a blanket ban on rat-hole mining prevalent in the state.

Revealing this here on Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Mining and Geology departments Bindo M Lanong said, “We have not put a ban on the unscientific rat-hole mining taking into consideration the interest of the miners who are carrying out the task on a smaller scale.”

New Delhi: The Central government on Tuesday said mining activities have contaminated drinking water sources in Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya.

“The Megh-alaya government has reported that sources of some drinking water supply schemes have had to be shifted due to contamination caused by mining and some major rivers in the area have been found to be unfit for human use,” Rural Development Minister and Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation Jairam Ramesh said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

Shillong: The North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) is planning to set up a solar power plant within its campus during the current 12th Five-Year Plan period to meet the growing power requirement.

Informing this here on Tuesday, NEHU Vice-Chancellor Prof AN Rai said the Central University has proposed an investment of Rs 2.5 crore to improve power distribution within its campus apart from venturing into solar energy.

SHILLONG: The District administration of Ri Bhoi has been make notable progress in acquiring land for construction of the Umsning Bypass, an integral part of the Umiam- Jorabat four-lane road project.

The State Government was compelled to construct the road from the Umsning Bypass due to stiff opposition from Ri Bhoi NGOs who were against the Government’s initial plan to construct the four-lane road through the existing Umsning road.

SHILLONG: Even though West Garo Hills district is the highest achiever in the State having done away with open defecation, it is still lagging behind in making schools ‘open defecation free’.

According to available statistics, 45 per cent schools in the district still lack sanitation facilities although during the year 2011 a total of 216 villages in the West Garo Hills were awarded the ‘Nirmal Gram Puraskar’.

Shillong: A roadmap drawn by the state in achieving Nirmal Meghalaya has shown an upward trend in the graph as far as the sanitation status or toilet average is concern with over 73 percent achievement, which is more than the national average, experts claimed.

Experts of the Water and Sanitation Programme-South Asia (WSP-SA) has claimed that the state can become Nirmal Meghalaya in a period of two years adding that Meghalaya is one of the leading states as far as implementation of Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) now known as Nirmal Bharat Abiyan (NBA) in rural areas of the state is concerned.

SHILLONG: MeECL senior official and Chief Project Manager of Myntdu Leshka Project, Elias Lyngdoh on Saturday said majority of the people are not against the proposed 240 MW Umngot Hydro Electric Project even as negotiations are on with the villagers who are apprehensive about the same.

Talking to The Shillong Times, Lyngdoh said, “Only one anti-dam activist is against the project and we can assure that not a single house would be submerged as a result of the project.”

Violation forest rules by cement cos in Jaintia Hills

Shillong: The Shillong bench of the Guahati High Court has directed the State Government to submit a report on whether provisions of the Forest Conservation Act 1980 has been complied while granting permission of establishment of cement plants and limestone mines in Jaintia Hills. Initiating a suo-moto public interest Litigation petition, the court on July 27 directed the government to submit the report in the form of an affidavit within four weeks time.

Shillong: The Shillong bench of Gauhati High Court has sought a report from the state government on the recent coal mine tragedy in Garo Hills and also on the steps taken to ensure safety of miners in the State.

Accepting a suo-moto PIL on the coal mine mishap, which reportedly claimed 15 lives, the bench directed the state government to submit the report in the form of affidavit by August 28.

SHILLONG: Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh has expressed concern on the reports that majority of the shops in the city has again started to use the plastic bags despite the ban by the Government.

“It is really sad to see that the plastic bags which have been banned are again being used.” “It also hurts to see the effort of the Government to protect the environment is not yielding a positive result,” Lyngdoh said while speaking to reporters here on Wednesday.