MEPA hopes state will start pension for scribes
Shillong: Meghalaya Editors and Publishers Association (MEPA) has extended its appreciation to the Government of Tripura for increasing the monthly pension of journalists to Rs 10,000 per month. It said the decision of the Tripura government may encourage the Government of Meghalaya to immediately start with the monthly pension for the ailing and aged journalists of the state. A week ago, members of MEPA submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and one of their demands was to extend pension to journalists in the state. MEPA hopes that the chief minister will follow the good example of the Tripura government.
Power cuts during WC irk Upper New Nongstoin residents
NONGSTOIN: Erratic power supply in the World Cup season has irked residents of Upper New Nongstoin and its adjoining villages leading an altercation on Friday between football fans and MeECL workers. The power went off during the first match between Russia and Saudi Arabia on Friday. Upper New Nongstoin is the only village where electricity is shut down for more than five times a day but when locals contacted MeECL officials, they said the power line was being repaired. A group of disgruntled residents said the officials have been saying the same thing for the last two years. The nearby New Nongstoin area does not experience such a situation. “It’s really surprising that a place in a town area is not getting proper supply of electricity,” C Lyngdoh, a resident said. K Marbaniang, a resident of Upper New Nongstoin, said MeECL is not taking the issue seriously. “Out of 24 hours, power is there for only five hours. Most of the shops which depend on electricity are in bad shape as people have begun to lose hope,” he added.
Locals suffer after SWKH river culvert project stopped
MAWKYRWAT: The Synjuk ki Rangbah Shnong (SRS) War San Lyngdoh Area is upset that construction of a culvert along the Rihiang river near Mawphanrang village in South West Khasi Hills has been stopped. The Synjuk said this has led to problems for villagers as monsoon has started. President of the Synjuk PK Bani said the construction of the culvert has been stopped since November-December 2017 and now a large portion of this culvert has been destroyed by water on Thursday. “The irresponsibility of the contractor has created a lot of problems to the people of the area as vehicles are not able to pass through the river because the water level has increased,” said Bani. The Synjuk and the locals have requested the department concerned to take the matter seriously.The Synjuk demanded that the contractor should come immediately to restart the work and “if he cannot, the government should handover the work to other contractors”.
GSU urges CM to look into educational needs
TURA: The Garo Students’ Union (GSU), East Zone, Williamnagar has urged Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to look into several educational requirements in the town.
Reminding that the existing MPSC cell in Williamnagar is currently dealing in distribution and reception of application forms, the union urged Sangma to look into the setting up of an MPSC examination centre here for the benefit of youths and aspiring candidates. Another demand of the union is to make functional the polytechnic college that was inaugurated in 2017 by the then chief minister Mukul Sangma. However, it said there is no sign of the college being functional till date and urged the chief minister to take necessary initiative to make it functional by this academic session. In another separate release, the union sought the construction of a new classroom building at Williamnagar Government College. According to the union, students of the college are facing problems due to the increase in number of students, which come around to 130 to 140 students in each class, especially in the 1st and 2nd year PU and BA. Reminding the chief minister of his promise to sanction six new computer sets, it urged him to make it a reality in view of the current academic session, which already started. Other demands made by the union include construction of a basketball court and a boundary wall around the college so as to prevent encroachment.
Three riot vehicles damaged
SHILLONG: Shillong police has lodged a suo-moto complaint that three of their riot vehicles (ML-02-5089, ML-02-5090 & ML-02-5092) were damaged due to stone pelting in Motphran on May 31. On the other hand, M.L Garg, Manager, Vishal Roadways (India), Umsohsun Road also lodged a complaint that on June 1 around 3:30 am, while a vehicle (AS-01-GC-7525) was unloading materials at Umsohsun near Ri Khasi Press, a group of boys lobbed petrol bomb and damaged the vehicle and the materials.
NCC training
SHILLONG: The NCC Combined Annual Training Camp is organised by 61 Meghalaya Girls Battalion NCC at ARPS, Laitkor from Jun 14 to June 23. In the opening address, Col Navneet Gumasta, Officiating Group Commander, NCC Group HQ, Shillong motivated the 600 cadets from different parts of the state who are attending the camp. He said NCC is the largest youth organisation which aims at grooming and nurturing them in order to channelise their energy towards nation building by making them responsible citizens.