SHILLONG: The reported move by Assam to construct dam on Dron (called Khri river in Meghalaya) has raised concern among environmentalists in Meghalaya.

The adviser of the Indigenous Biodiversity and Social Welfare Organisation (IBSWO), PBM Basaiawmoit, on Wednesday said the construction of dams would have “huge repercussion” on the environment.

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

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: In a boost to tea production in Meghalaya, three of its plantations and processing units have been certified “organic” by a certified agency of the government of India, official sources said on Monday.

The certification for processing and plantation have been given to Urlong Tea factory in East Khasi Hills district and Nalan Tea industries and government-owned Meg Tea processing unit in Ri-Bhoi district, they said. India Organic which awarded the “organic” certificates to these factories has approved that black tea, CTC tea, green tea and hand-rolled tea from these factories are considered as organic certified.

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: In a bid to pave the way for food and nutritional security in the region through improved varieties of popular tuber crops, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Research Complex for NEH Region, today held a workshop at the complex in Umiam, Ri-Bhoi District.

The workshop which will last for two days is aptly entitled CTCRI-ICAR-NEH planning-cum inception workshop on enhancing and sustainable livelihood in NEH Region through tuber crops technology.

SHILLONG: Admitting that the progress of the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) in the State has not been upto the mark, Power Minister AT Mondal said that show cause notices have been given to the concerned contractors for the delay in commissioning of the scheme.

The RGGVY scheme aims at electrifying all villages and habitations besides providing access to electricity to all rural households and also to provide electricity connection to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families free of charge. Under the scheme, 1, 14,507 BPL families will be provided free electricity connection in the state.

KLEW: A serious irregularity has been unearthed over the implementation of the mid-day meal scheme in the Unitarian Lower Primary School in Upper Klew village in Ri-Bhoi district.

Students of the school are not getting their mid-day meal even though official records claim that mid-day meals are being provided to the students on a regular basis.

SHILLONG: The State Government is preparing its written submission on the jinxed Umiam-Jorabat four-lane road project to be submitted before the Gauhati High Court, following a direction from the court.

The Gauhati High Court asked the State Government to file the written submission on the basis of a PIL filed by the landowners and an NGO in opposition to the recent decision of the State Government to construct the proposed four-lane road through the Umsning Bypass.

Shillong: With an aim to enhance fish seed production and impart knowledge to the farmers of the state on modern technology of aquaculture especially breeding technique, the Fisheries department has come up with a full- fledged research centre at Ri Bhoi which will be inaugurated on Thursday.

The first of its kind in the State, the Mawpun farm-cum-research centre at Ri Bhoi is expected to enhance the fish seed production with a target of about 25 lakh fries. It will be a demonstration centre to all fish farmers for breeding, feeding and the like.