The Shillong Times

Party suspicious of behind-the-scenes deals, questions Chief Ministers strong defence SHILLONG, April 17: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) on Friday voiced strong suspicion over the state governments handling of the proposed luxury resort and spa project at Umiam Lake, hinting that something is happening behind the scenes in view of the manner in []

AMPATI, April 17: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Friday informed that sustained efforts by the government are under way to upgrade infrastructure, ensure adequate teacher availability and improve the overall quality of education across the state. The chief minister made this statement during a felicitation programme held at Babelapara Higher Secondary School under the []

KHLIEHRIAT, April 17: In the shadow of government pipelines that promise relief but deliver none, over 2,000 residents across seven villages in East Jaintia Hills are living a daily contradictionwater infrastructure without water, hope without supply and survival at a cost many can barely afford. In Moolamonoh, Moolang, Musniangkmai, Musniangrim, Rangad, Lumputhoi and Moonongtdu, water []

JOWAI, April 17: The Jaintia National Council (JNC), Western Zone, has urged the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department to expedite efforts to ensure water delivery to all villages and areas in West Jaintia Hills that lack adequate water supply and where the water distribution system is not functioning effectively. To address the improper implementation of []

SHILLONG, April 17: The Hill State Peoples Democratic Party (HSPDP) has clarified that it will not extend support to the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA), choosing instead to work through the Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) for the upcoming by-election to the Shillong Lok Sabha seat. HSPDP president KP Pangiang stated that the party will sit with []

Nomination The Secretary to the Cooperation department has nominated Joint Secretary CS Khongwir as the Nodal Officer for matters concerning the Meghalaya Right to Public Services Act, 2020. For the redressal of any issues relating to the Act, the officer can be contacted via email at coopdeptsectt17@gmail.com or by telephone on 9774012389.

NEW DELHI, April 17: Patricia Mukhim, a renowned journalist and Editor of The Shillong Times, on Friday laid bare the dangerous trend of the emergence of tribal land elites in Meghalaya who have gobbled up land, leading to the severe marginalisation of poor tribals. Addressing the second edition of the Commonwealth-supported Omega Resilience Awards Ideas []

SHILLONG, April 17: The state government has renamed several roads across the state with immediate effect. According to a notification issued by the General Administration Department (B), Blessed Mother Teresa has been renamed as Saint Teresa Road, while Rev Nichols Roy Road has been changed to Rev. JJM Nichols Roy Road. Furthermore, the PWD Road []

KHLIEHRIAT, April 17: An internal CC road at Apha in Umkiang village, East Jaintia Hills, constructed under the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) scheme for 2025-26, was inaugurated by local MLA Santa Mary Shylla in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Manish Kumar and community members. Built at a cost of Rs 40 lakh, the road is []

SHILLONG, April 17: The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) has called upon the Meghalaya government to urgently implement the Ramsar Convention for wetland protection, stressing that the states ecologically significant water bodies require immediate conservation measures. In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, HITO president Donbok Dkhar said the absence of any []

By Our Reporter Shillong, April 17: There were three big winners in the 5th Meghalaya State League on Friday on what was otherwise a day of very close results. Mawlarshong SC romped to a 5-1 victory against Seng Samla Umdang Pyllun in Mawkyrwats Group H, while in Williamnagar Janepih Youth SCA defeated Attong Matgrik FC []

By Our Reporter Shillong, April 17: The stage is set for a high-voltage North-East derby as Shillong Lajong FC prepare to face Aizawl FC in their final Stage 1 fixture of the Indian Football League at the SSA Stadium here on Saturday. Scheduled for a 6:30 PM kickoff, the clash promises intensity, pride, and crucial []

TURA: Bugi chibimako kabatgipa Sonagre-Jijikapara Road Bridge-ko Sukrobar salo, adokni Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, oprake onangenba, Kujikura-oni Dimapara-ona apalbatate tarina sienggipa ramako tarinaba abachengate onangjolaha. Ia dolongko oprake onanganio adokni Chief Minister, jinmana aganprakangengon, ia jolrango rama jallangrang dongjani asel songni nokni manderang, ruutbea bilsirangna nengnikanirangko chagrongna nangaha indiba daalo ia dolongko rike onanichi, []

By Our Reporter Shillong, April 17: A series of exciting encounters marked the Inter-School Under-18 and Under-15 cricket tournaments organised by the Shillong Cricket Association, with young talents delivering spirited performances across matches. In the Under-18 category, RB Anupchand Secondary School edged past Madrasa LP UP School by three wickets in a closely fought contest. []

TURA: West Garo Hills ajani Dalu C&RD Block ningo gital rikgipa Dalu Block Integrated Development Complex-ko Sukrobar salo, adokni Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, nokdonggae onangaha aro ia nokko nokdonggae onanio, adokni Cabinet Minister aro Dalu MLA Brening A Sangma-ba dongpae bak raangaha. Ia gital nokko nokdonggae onanganio adokni Chief Minister, tombimonganio bak raenggipa manderangna []

TURA: Garobadha-oni Selsella-ona dakanggipa ramako name tarichina changni chang uiatahaoba kamrangko nirokna gisik nangjaenga ine Selsella jolo dingtang dingtang dolrangni nangrime bikotgipa All Selsella NGOs Alliance (ASNA) parakatenba, Garobadha PWD (Roads) Sub-Division-ni Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) salsnini gisepon ragalchina adok sorkario dabiangaha. Selsella NGO-rangni adokni Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma-na sedoatgipa chittio parakatani gitade, Garobadha-Selsella ramako []

KHARKUTTA: Ia 2026 bilsini Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) porikkao Top 20-ni 10-gipa biapko mane pass kaanggipa Adokgre St Andrews Secondary School-ni chatro Emalton D Marak-na mande rapilskaaniko dakna aro ia bilsini SSLC porikkao pass kaanggipa pilak chatro chatrirangna agan-kupattianirangko onna gita Sukrobar salo, Felicitation-cum-Career Guidance program-ko United Kharkutta Government Higher Secondary School-o ongataha aro []

SHILLONG: Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC)-o gital songgipa Executive Committee (EC)-ara manderangni namnike songgipa EC ongja aro tangka paisa jakkalsretanirangna matnanga mangipa onga ine Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) matnangatenba, GHADC-ni EC-ko all-party body ba pilak party-rangni bimang dake songpiltaichina, ongjaode Administrator Rule-ni ningo donatchina dabiangaha. GHADC-ni term-ko jadokna radodapatani jaman, National Peoples Party (NPP) []

AMPATI: Sukrobar salo, adokni Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma-na, South West Garo Hills ajani Purakhasia C&RD Block ningo donggipa Babelapara Higher Secondary School-o mande rapilskaani program-ko ongatangaha. Ia skulara, sak 600-mangni gita chatro chatrirangna Arts aro Commerce Stream baksa lekka porako onenggipa private skul onga aro ia program-ko ia skulni School Managing Committee (SMC), All []

Editor, Through this letter I wish to draw the urgent attention of the concerned authorities to the persistent and worsening electricity crisis in Patharkhmah village, Ri-Bhoi District. For several months now, residents of our village have been enduring frequent and unpredictable power outages, along with inadequate low voltage levels. While other parts of the district []

By Latyngkaihun Nongrem India officially gained independence from British colonial rule at midnight on August 15a moment that marked not only the birth of a nation but the awakening of many voices long unheard. India is situated north of the equator between 84 north (the mainland) to 376 north latitude and 687 east to 9725 []

Tehran/WASHINGTON, April 17: Iran announced on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz is now completely open to all commercial vessels for the duration of the Lebanon ceasefire, a move welcomed by Donald Trump. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the reopening aligns with the 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, though ships must follow designated []

BEIRUT, April 17: A fragile calm settled over parts of Lebanon on Friday as a 10-day ceasefire brokered by the United States between Israel and Hezbollah took effect. The truce prompted thousands of displaced families to begin returning home, despite widespread destruction, uncertainty, and warnings from Israeli and Lebanese authorities against going back to certain []

WASHINGTON, April 17: India has strongly condemned the targeting of commercial shipping during the West Asia conflict and called for the immediate restoration of safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route. Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Indias Permanent Representative Harish Parvathaneni described such attacks as deplorable and stressed that []

WASHINGTON, April 17: US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Washington and Tehran are very close to a peace deal and claimed Iran has agreed to hand over its enriched uranium, a key sticking point in negotiations. He warned that the US could resume airstrikes and impose a naval blockade on Iranian ports if []

Bengaluru, April 17: Almost a month into IPL 2026, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have evolved into the most complete unit in the competition and they will be eager to strengthen their hold on this tag when they face the struggling Delhi Capitals here on Saturday. Focus has largely remained on Virat Kohli, and the batting talisman []

Ahmedabad, April 17: Shubman Gills elegant 86 complemented a probing new-ball spell from Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj as Gujarat Titans registered a commanding five-wicket win over laggards Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League here on Friday. Gill was in complete command, firing on all cylinders as he steered the Titans to their []

United Nations, April 17: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, expressing hope that it would help advance efforts toward lasting peace in the region. I welcome the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel & Lebanon, and commend the role of the US in facilitating []

SHILLONG: Ri Bhoi ajani Umiam Lake-o daldalgipa project-rang, chongmotan five-star hotel gita dakgipa project-rangko kulina gita sorkarini miksonganiko dingtang dingtang dolrang jegaltokengon, ia Umiam Lake-ara adokna damsa nitogipa chibolsan ongaigija Meghalaya adoko mingsa jatni gam-jin gitaba ongenga ine Bristibar salo, BJP-na kuwattimgipa Mariahom Kharkrang parakatenba, ia biapo kulina miksongenggipa project-rangko name nipilchina, sorkarini aarangko rakkichina []

TURA: East Garo Hills ajani Dobu songo ruuta bilsirangna skangan Veterinary Centre-ko rikmanahaoba ia centre-o permanent doctor aro kam kagiparangko rakkikujaengani asel songo noko jilla kaanirang saanirangko manani somoirango nengnikanirangko chagrongna nangtokenga ine Dobu jolni dingtang dingtang dolrang, chongmotan AHAM, GSU aro FKJGP dolrang parakatenba, ia Veterinary Centre-ko taraken chalaina gita sorkari baksa agangrikchina Opposition []

TURA: Garo Hills-o sosojengjeng onganina adok sorkarini radoatgipa Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) election-ko tarake ongatchina GHADC election-o Trinamool Congress (TMC)-ni candidate onge susaenggipa manderang dabiangaha. Iani bidingo TMC-ni candidate-rang Bristibar salo, Tura-ni TMC office-o tomaniko ongatangenba, GHADC-ni bidingo aro election-ko ongatninggija donengani gimin chanchirimangaha. Ia tomanio TMC candidate-rang tome chanchirimengon, Tribal-rangna ongimin bilrangko []

TURA: Bristibar salo, West Garo Hills ajani dingtang dingtang skulrango poraienggipa chatro chatrirangna, District School Education Office-ni gita District Level Science, Mathematics & Environment Exhibition 2025-26-ko Tura-ni Dakopgre-o donggipa SMELC Building-o ongatangaha. Ia Science Exhibition-ko STEM for Viksit & Atmanirbhar Bharat ine pangchakaniko done ongataha aro ia exhibition-o West Garo Hills ajao donggipa dam 10 []

Editor, The article titled Religion without Conscience Collapses into Disaster: Michael Syiem Affirms by Salil Gewali, is very enlightening. Firstly, my thanks go to our veteran social activist Michael Syiem for his inspiring musical play, which highlights the growing number of false god-men who mislead believers. The act of demolishing mosques, temples and churches springs []

THE long-awaited Women Reservation Bill has been introduced in the special session of Parliament on Thursday with an assertion from Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Respect for our mothers and sisters is respect for the nation. The Bill seeks to ensure 33 percent reservation of seats for women in Parliament and state legislatures from the []

By Patricia Mukhim Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly, question assumptions, and make well-reasoned judgments. Critical thinking also questions past narratives that are embedded in the present despite the fact that the present requires an ecosystem that relies on logic and reasoning to meet new challenges. However, not everything about the past was []

By Shivani Pde The Strait of Hormuz has suddenly surged into global conversations, dominating news cycles and social media feeds alike. What was once a relatively obscure geographic passage is now being discussed in everyday conversations, from economic forums to Instagram reels. The reason is simple yet alarming: the rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, April 16: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has said the Meghalaya government is lobbying with the Centre to relax scientific mining norms that small-scale coal miners find restrictive, while acknowledging the complexity of amending national laws. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Sangma confirmed the state has raised the issue with New []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, April 16: Khasi and Garo languages have now become official languages of Meghalaya along with English. The state Cabinet on Thursday approved the Meghalaya Official Languages Ordinance, 2026, repealing the Meghalaya State Language Act, 2005. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said following this decision, Khasi and Garo languages will be used []

State BJP lists Mawjymbuin Cave, Weiking, Nongsawlia Church for devp By Our Reporter SHILLONG, April 16: The Meghalaya unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is preparing to submit proposals to the Centre for the development of key religious and cultural sites in the State under the PRASHAD and Swadesh Darshan 2.0 schemes, including the []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, April 16: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday expressed confidence that Meghalaya will witness an increase in its representation in Parliament following the proposed delimitation of constituencies, while welcoming the Womens Reservation Bill introduced in the Parliament on Thursday. Speaking to reporters here, the Chief Minister indicated that there is []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, April 16: The deputation of as many as eight senior IAS and IPS officers from Meghalaya to the election-bound states of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu has severely disrupted administrative work in several key departments. The IAS officers sent as Election Observers include Swapnil Tembe, Garod L.S.N. Dykes, David D. Sangma, []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, April 16: In a key decision, the state government has proposed to link Polo and New Shillong Township with a new four-lane road. Informing this on Thursday, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said that the proposed four-lane road will start from the CRPF camp at Polo and it will pass through []

Our Bureau MAWKYRWAT/SHILLONG, April 16: President of the Khasi Authors Society (KAS), Dr DRL Nonglait, on Thursday lashed out at successive state governments and legislators for their failure to secure the inclusion of the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Speaking at a public meeting in Mawkyrwat, South West Khasi Hills, Nonglait []

A rusted direction signboard hangs precariously by cables near Lok Bhavan in the city on Thursday. (ST)

The TMC candidates asserted that administrative tasks, including the preparation of separate electoral rolls and delimitation, should not require a six-month window From Our Correspondent TURA, April 16: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MDC candidates met here on Tuesday to demand that the state government expedite the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections and finalise pending []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, April 16: BJP Meghalaya chief spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang on Thursday said the country should acknowledge the Centres role in pushing the long-pending Womens Reservation Bill, which he claimed had remained unaddressed for decades. Speaking to reporters, Kharkrang said that while previous governments often highlighted womens empowerment during election campaigns, they failed []

TURA, April 16: Several organizations from Dobu in East Garo Hills along with nokmas and local villagers have called on Opposition leader Dr Mukul Sangma, to take up the matter of making the already completed Dobu Veterinary Centre functional, after repeated demands to the state government failed to draw any action. In their representation to []

Tura, April 16: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) MDC candidates held a strategic meeting today at the Tura TMC office to discuss the future of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) and address the current delay in the electoral process. The meeting focused on the implementation of long-standing demands for the protection of indigenous rights []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | ROHIT SHARMA BECOMES FIRST MI BATTER TO SCORE 6000 RUNS New Delhi, April 15: Ajinkya Rahane seems to be living in a bubble these days, a common characteristic with some of the accomplished Indian cricketers. The bubble is a shield for them to deflect any proverbial outside noise which in another []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | ROHIT SHARMA BECOMES FIRST MI BATTER TO SCORE 6000 RUNS Chennai, April 15: Kolkata Knight Riders Captain Ajinkya Rahane has been fined Rs 12 lakh for maintained a slow over-rate during their IPL match against Chennai Super Kings here. Kolkata Knight Riders Captain Ajinkya Rahane has been fined after his team []