SHILLONG: The Wildlife Trust of India and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, New Delhi, have taken strong note of the recent detection of poaching of endangered species of animals in the State and sought a report from the Meghalaya forest officials on the action taken in this regard.

The forest staff had apprehended as many as 25 poachers on April 24 last and seized the body parts of endangered deer among others from Mawkarah village in West Khasi Hills district.

NONGSTOIN: A devastating cyclone hit Mawshynrut area of West Khasi Hills District on Wednesday night ravaging 14 villages and killing 3 persons and injuring over 51.

SHILLONG, March 24: Meghalaya has seen a decline in the elephant population. The number of elephant population in the State has declined by 579.

NONGSTOIN: Members of the Western Youth Federation (WYF), Nongstoin Circle met West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner S Kharlyngdoh on Sunday to press upon him the need to initiate the construction work of the Solid Waste Disposal Shed at Makadiang here at the earliest.

In absence of any solid waste disposal facilities in Nongstoin Township, the daily lot of garbage is dumped into river Nonbah which passes through the heart of the town. Some of the households also dump excreta into the river, polluting it further.

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 unscientific ‘rat hole mining’ that received the Cabinet approval in the form of the Meghalaya Minerals and Mining Policy 2012 on October 5 this year received an endorsement on Monday

Shillong: Directions has been given to the forest officials to have a proper interaction with the traditional institutions to make them understand of the real intention of the government in having the Elephant Reserve in parts of West Khasi Hills covering vast areas joining Balpakram.

According to Tynsong, the government intended to introduce the Elephant Reserve from Wahblei in West Khasi Hills district to East and South Garo Hills districts for protection of wild elephant inhabited in these areas. However, the proposal has been strongly objected by more than 100 of traditional institutions of West Khasi Hills district including the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC)

SHILLONG: The KHADC has unanimously resolved to demand the State Government to revoke its notification declaring the various forest lands in West and South West Khasi Hills joining Balpakram as ‘Elephant Reserve Forest’.

Replying to a motion moved by Mawthengkut UDP MDC FK Ryntathiang on the second day of the Autumn Session of the Council here on Wednesday, the KHADC CEM Pynshngain N Syiem said, “We would demand for withdrawal of the notification since the Government has not taken the Council and the land owners into confidence before declaring the forest areas in Khasi Hills as Elephant Reserve Forest.”

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.

A proposed 2 MW micro-hydel power project in Meghalaya’s West Khasi Hills district by the Assam government could become the new flashpoint to the four-decade boundary dispute between the two States, an official said on Wednesday.

The Congress government in Meghalaya, led by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, has feigned ignorance about the proposed Rs 13 crore dam to be built on the Khri river.