JOWAI: Concerned over an impending water crisis in Nongtalang area under Amlarem Sub-division in Jaintia Hills, owing to large-scale and unscientific limestone mining in the surrounding areas, loca

JOWAI: With an aim of spreading the message to the younger generation and to the people residing in the mineral rich, East Jaintia Hills District that water is a finite source, a day long mass awa

JOWAI: In a first of its kind initiative in the State, Sakri village in East Jaintia Hills has been electrified through a mini-hydro project jointly implemented by the Meghalaya Rural Development Society (MRDS), Lifcom and the Nagaland Empowerment of People through Energy Development (NEPED).

The Rs 1.50 lakh mini-hydro project known as hydroger, a bigger dynamo-type generator, was inaugurated by the East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner, Abhishek Bhagotia on Thursday.

SHILLONG: The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) will take a call on the quantum of penalty to be imposed on cement plants which have violated the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act,

’’Instead of taking action against the erring cement companies indicted by the JIT, the State Government came out with an amendment on definition of forest which was nothing but to shield the cement lobbies. If this (act on forest definition) is not stopped, more and more forest cover of the state will be depleted,’’

SHILLONG: The Maitshaphrang Movement (MSM) and the Jaintia Youth Fededration (JYF) has alleged that the Meghalaya Forest Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2012 which was tabled and passed in the Assembly was in favour of the cement companies even as they have decided to file a PIL in the High Court against the State Government.

SHILLONG: The Gauhati High Court has asked the Meghalaya Government to strictly implement the directives of the Ministry of Environment & Forest pertaining to the violation of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 by cement companies located in Jaintia hills.

The Court also directed the State Government to undertake a joint inspection of the remaining 1,140 hectares of land acquired or under the process of acquisition by the said cement companies to ascertain the status of forests and to submit the report within three months.

SHILLONG: With just only 10 MW power production during the lean period, the Opposition on Wednesday demanded a white paper on the status of the Myntdu-Leshka hydro-electric project completed at the cost of over Rs 1000 crore.

Ardent Basaiawmoit (HSPDP) raised a question in the Assembly on the status of the hydel project. Opposition members Paul Lyngdoh and Dr Donkupar Roy also wanted to know whether the project is viable considering the cost incurred for the project.

Over 3,000 trees, including those falling within the Narpuh Reserve Forest in eastern Meghalaya, might face the axe for the proposed widening of the National Highway 44 which connects the state to

JOWAI: The District Magistrate, West Jaintia Hills, has prohibited the removal and collection of sand, stones and other illegal activities from the riverbed and river bank of river Myntdu. The order was imposed following collection of stones, sand etc. from the river without permission of the authorities by some private parties.

“The illegal activities of such private parties have badly affected the ecological system and environment of the area,” the prohibitory order stated while adding that order shall remain in force until further orders.

JOWAI: Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi expressed concern over illegal immigration and unscientific mining in Jaintia Hills even as she assured that her party, both at the Centre and State level is committed to resolving the issues plaguing the area.

Gandhi was addressing a public rally here ahead of the February 23 polls in Meghalaya. “The governments both at the Centre and the State are looking into how to stem illegal immigration and I am hopeful that we will reach a satisfactory solution,” she said in election meeting at the Kiang Nangbah College ground here.