JH cops blamed for illegal coal transport
JOWAI: Illegal transportation of coal from East and West Jaintia Hills to Assam continues in violation of the National Green Tribunal order and police of the two districts remain mute spectators. Ri Bhoi police have detected many coal-laden trucks in the last one week. The vehicles, carrying coal to Assam’s Beltola, managed to travel so far despite check points in East and West Jaintia Hills. Last Saturday, 22 trucks were detained.“All these coal-laden trucks were coming from Jaintia Hills and it was really shocking to see that Jaintia Hills police never detected them,” an environmentalist said.On Sunday evening, a coal-laden truck capsized and crushed two light vehicles injuring at least five persons near Ratacherra village in East Jaintia Hills. This indicates that coal is also supplied to Panch Gram and Garimganj mainly to paper mills and brick factories.West Jaintia Hills police had earlier detained several trucks at the check point at Eight Mile (Phramer traffic cell) but no truck was detained so far either at Shohshrieh, Lumshnong or Umkiang check point in East Jaintia Hills.“We suspect that Jaintia Hills police are being bribed by truck owners and also by coal traders. This is why no illegal transportation of coal is detected,” a source said.
BSF seizes cattle at intl border
SHILLONG: The BSF troops have countered cattle smugglers at the Indo-Bangladesh border in numerous occasions and are taking a series of measures to curb cattle smuggling along the border. In one incident, the troops deployed at Nayabazar in East Khasi Hills recovered 12 cattle worth approximately more than Rs. 2.5 lakh while being smuggled from India to Bangladesh through unfenced areas. The cattle smugglers had also tried to breach the unfenced border in several instances as well. In another incident the BSF troops deployed at Kuliang, East Jaintia Hills seized 10 cattle (including six buffalos) worth more than Rs. 1.5 lakh from the border area.The BSF also seized a total of 121 cattle, and contraband items worth more than Rs. 23 lakhs, while being smuggled to Bangladesh since last week from the areas of Tuka, Nayabazar, Lyngkhat, Umsiyam, Muktapur, Pyrdwah, Tharaighat, Kurikhal, Mukamchera, Kasinda, Omkhawa Distt East Khasi Hills, Barsora, Kakargora, Nokrianala South West Khasi Hills, Ganganagar West Khasi Hills, Rithingpara, West Garo Hills, Lumasaki, East Jaintia Hills, Jaliakhola, West Jaintia Hills and Baghmara, Gasuapara, Angratoli, Namchapara, Fakirkona of South Garo Hills. All the seized items were handed over to concerned departments for further legal action.
IIT-B conducts workshop in Tura
TURA: The Department of Management, NEHU in collaboration with entrepreneurship cell (e-Cell), IIT Bombay, organised a workshop which aimed at polishing the skills of entrepreneurship talents on Monday at Nehu, Tura campus. The workshop was designed to help the budding entrepreneurs germinate business ideals with the opportunities available in North East in particular and Garo Hills in general.A total of 90 students from NEHU and ICFAI University Meghalaya attended the workshop where they got the opportunity to meet experts from IIT– Bombay.
Seminar on clean cooking
SHILLONG: A seminar on clean cooking, to be held in the city next week, will focus on the challenges and opportunities in the sector. Nitin Akhade, associate technologist of Clean Energy Access Network (CLEAN) that will organise the 5th Edition of the India Clean Cooking Forum (ICCF) on October 24-25 at India Habitat Center in New Delhi, told media persons here the growth in the consumption of LPG and its transition is not complete in India.“Though the country has witnessed an unprecedented and near exclusive focus on LPG expansion through the ‘Give it up’ campaign and ‘Ujjwala Scheme’, the transition is not complete… the organisation seeks to complement the government efforts of providing renewable energy-based cooking solutions,” he added. A statement from CLEAN stated that 60-70 per cent of Indian households were still using traditional fuels for cooking as of 2016.The event will be in partnership with the Clean Cooking Forum of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, which is an international event.
Tura Don Bosco School to celebrate diamond jubilee
TURA: One of the oldest missionary schools in Garo Hills, the Don Bosco Higher Secondary School is set to celebrate its diamond jubilee on October 18. The school today has more than 2000 students. During the diamond jubilee celebration, Chief MinisterMukul Sangma is expected to attend as the Chief Guest, while retired Rev and Bishop of Tura, Andrew R Marak and Salesian Provincial of Guwahati, Fr V M Thomas will attend as the guests of honour. Citizens of Tura, past pupils, parents and students will also be a part of the celebration. The school has produced many prominent figures and great leaders. Among them include former Lok Sabha Speaker, Late PA Sangma, former ministers in the Meghalaya Government, Late L A Sangma and Late Cyprian R Sangma besides numerous officers, doctors, engineers as well as successful entrepreneurs.
Footpath inaugurated
SHILLONG: A locality in Madanriting, Lumkharkongor, block – D, finally got a footpath cum two wheeler driveway being constructed with the financial assistance from a social worker and former MLA and MDC of Nongkrem Lambor Malngiang on Monday. As per a statement released, Malngiang spoke on the difficulties faced by the residents and assured for much more developmental work for the locality as well as the whole of Madanriting area.
Elephants found dead
SHILLONG: Two elephants were found dead early on Monday morning near Jelajuripara village in South West Garo Hills. “We received information about the two elephants this morning and went to investigate. When we saw the two bodies we immediately informed the Forest office (who then informed the Wildlife team) to find the cause of death. None of the elephants showed any external injuries though there is suspicion that they may have died of food poisoning,” said SWGH SP Bobby Momin.