Delayed water supply scheme inaugurated in Ri Bhoi
Nongpoh: After years of waiting, the ‘Lalumpam Combined Water Supply Scheme’ that will cater to several villages of Marngar area in Ri Bhoi District was finally inaugurated on Tuesday by PHE Minister Samlin Malngiang during a programme held at Nonga-gang village. The water supply scheme was funded under the ‘National Rural Drinking Water Programme’ with the project costing Rs 48.87 crore. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Nongpoh legislator Mayralborn Syiem, Chief Engineer, PHE SK Blah, Superintending Engineer, PHE Ri Bhoi Circle D Marbaniang, Executive Engineer, PHE Nongpoh Division DD Umdor and local residents. Addressing the function, Malngiang lauded the PHE department and contractor for the smooth implementation of the mega water supply scheme that will benefit the residents of Marngar area. Malngiang exhorted the local people to reap the benefits of the water supply scheme even as he hoped that the scheme will provide sufficient drinking water for future generations. The inauguration ceremony was made remarkable with songs and traditional dance performances by school students of Marngar area.
Guv for promotion of medicinal, aromatic plants
Shillong: The Institute of Natural Resources, under the aegis of the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA), organised a one-day workshop on ‘Scope of Aromatic Plants in Meghalaya’ at the Raj Bhavan on Thursday. The workshop was organised to provide awareness to the people and young entrepreneurs for development of entrepreneurial skills in area of essential oil processing and value addition. Addressing the gathering, Governor Ganga Prasad said Meghalaya is bestowed with ideal conditions for cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants. He added that there is a huge demand in the global market for medicinal and aromatic plants and there are immense opportunities in the state for sustainable expansion in the areas under cultivation for larger interest of the growers and entrepreneurs. “With the increasing demand for natural essential oils, aroma products and herbal extracts, the ability of the farmer or the entrepreneur to process the plants for value addition and for making high quality products has opened the possibility of increased income generation and better quality of life”, he said. Earlier, Additional Chief Secretary, K N Kumar, called for a compendium on the 834 types of medicinal plants found in the state. He stressed on capacity building of the kabirajs (traditional healers) in the state. He further spoke on the need for an Aromatic and Medicinal Plants policy and urged the government to launch the Aroma Mission for protection and conservation of medicinal plants in the state. Among others who addresses the inaugural session were P Sampat Kumar, CEO, MBDA, Dr A K Tripathi, Director, CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow and L Shabong, OSD, MBDA.
HYC conducts checking at ferro alloy plant in WKH
NONGSTOIN: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) West Khasi Hills District Unit on Thursday conducted a surprise inspection of Shikambari Ferro Alloy Pvt. Ltd. located at Rwiang village to check the labour license of those employed at the plant. However, when the HYC members wanted to check the names and documents of labourers working at the plant, the in charge, Mahesh Bhimsaria, refused to furnish details of the labourers leading to a hot debate. Sensing trouble, Magistrate, S. Warjri, along with a police team and the district forest officer rushed to the spot to prevent any flare-up. When Bhimsaria finally provided the names of his labourers on the advice of the Magistrate, it was found that only 11 out of around 150 workers had proper documents including labour license. Later, the HYC members met the deputy commissioner and asked her to make arrangements to deport the illegal labourer to their respective states within 20 hours. The deputy commissioner, however, refused to close down the factory as demanded by HYC, saying that she had no authority to do so, but assured the members that she will issue a show cause notice against the company officials. Meanwhile, the Seng Longkmie of Rwiang village filed a complaint against the company for dumping waste in the open and not taking care of the sewage and dust coming out of the plant.
RKM principal, teacher in 14-day judicial custody
SHILLONG: The principal and a teacher of Ramakrishna Mission (RKM), Secondary School in Bholaganj who were arrested for abetment of suicide of a Class IX student have been sent to 14 days judicial custody. According to the complaint of Ranjan Devnath, on August 4 evening, his 18-year-old daughter was found hanging in their residence at Nayabasti in Mahendraganj, South West Garo Hills. The girl named the duo in her suicide note. Police said that the matter in under investigation.
Seminar on crime against children held in Jowai
JOWAI: Keeping in view the rise in crime against children, a seminar on Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, 2015 and on Protection of Children from Sexual offences (POCSO) Act 2012, was organised by West Jaintia Hills Police in collaboration with the office of the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) here on Tuesday. Resource persons highlighted the issues of child sexual abuse, child trafficking during the seminar. It was also pointed out that police officers should identify vulnerable areas for children in need of care and protection who are susceptible to all vices including rape and trafficking. The matter of child abuse, rape should be taken up with all stakeholders and headmen to insist on the concerned villages to acquire birth certificate, the resource persons said. All protocols should be observed while handling child rape victims and to expedite actions from all stakeholders to enable completion of investigations within two months. The programme was attended by SP Vivek Syiem, members of Child Welfare Committee, Child Line, the medical superintendent of District Civil Hospital, Ialong, police officers and representatives from shelter homes.
Book fair at Shillong College
SHILLONG: Shillong College organised a two-day book fair cum sale programme on Thursday and Friday to commemorate National Librarians’ Day. The day is celebrated on August 12 in India to remember the contributions of SR Ranganathan to library science. The book fair was initiated by the Shillong College Central Library in collaboration with the New Book Centre, Laitumkhrah, and the Khasi Book Stall, Mawkhar. B Lyngdoh, librarian of Shillong College, said the aim of the fair is to promote, encourage and inculcate reading habit among students so that they can gain firsthand knowledge and to foster in them the spirit of competition and excellence. Principal KD Ramsiej said that book fairs give students an exposure to a world of publishing, marketing and creative writing. The programme saw an overwhelming response from faculty members and students. A wide range of books from all disciplines of education was displayed by both the publishing houses.
Cattle smuggler held
SHILLONG: BSF troops deployed at Lukaichar, South West Garo Hills on Wednesday apprehended one Indian cattle smuggler Noor Alam who was trying to enter India from Bangladesh. 226 cattle heads and contraband items worth more than Rs 43 lakh were seized by the security forces while being smuggled out from India to Bangladesh on the international border in the last last eight days from Tuka, Nayabazar, Lyngkhat, Umsiyam, Ryngkua, Shella, Muktapur in West Jaintia Hills and Baburambill in West Garo Hills.
Farmers’ body demands scheme
SHILLONG: The Hill Farmers’ Union (HFU) met Agriculture Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh and demanded a special scheme for farmers and to set up a separate market for organic produce in the state. The association pointed that they also want to promote indigenous plants like jatira, jamyrdoh (bishop’s weed), bat sohlah, ja ngew, soh mynken raja etc while also urging the minister for financial assistance for growing of medicinal plants. They urged the government to fix the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the agricultural produce even as they pointed out that agricultural activity has become unrewarding due to low productivity and unfavourable prices. The association reiterated the demand to give recognition to broom-grass, long pepper and black pepper, bay leaf, betel nut and betel leaf. However, the union asserted that there is no supply of organic fertilizer and requested the government to review the ban on chemical fertilizer.
JH river sweeps away man
JOWAI: A 51-year-old man, Tiwel Dkhar of Cham Cham village in East Jaintia Hills was swept away by the strong current of Myntdu River on Tuesday. Villagers informed that Dkhar was swept away while he was crossing the river. After a thorough search conducted by the villagers, Dkhar’s body was recovered from Sahksaw on Thursday.
10-day NCC training camp at Umroi concludes
SHILLONG: Around 500 NCC cadets participated in the 10-day Combined Annual Training Camp conducted by 2 Meghalaya Battalion NCC at Umroi from August 1 to 9. The cadets participated in various events including firing, obstacle training, drill, weapon training, social service activities and sports. Education minister Lahkmen Rymbui and Major General Raju Chauhan, ADG NCC were present during the closing ceremony and prize distribution. The minister lauded the efforts of NCC NE Zone in shaping the lives of boys and girls across the state and congratulated the cadets on the successful completion of the camp. Outstanding cadets were awarded with medals for their achievement during the camp. The event concluded with a cultural programme performed by the cadets.
Two killed in road mishaps
SHILLONG: Two drivers lost their lives in two separate road accidents in the state. The driver of a brand new Bolero pick-up (without registration number) identified as 18-year-old Rakibul Ali died on the spot after he met with an accident at Saptoka area in South West Garo Hills on Thursday at 10:00am. In another incident which took place on August 5, one truck (UP-21CN-1034) driven by Munammad Sarik, capsized on the road at Umtyra in East Jaintia Hills. The driver sustained critical injuries and succumbed to his injuries.
FKJGP for setting up helpline to report infiltrators
TURA: The FKJGP Garo Hills Unit has proposed the setting up of a toll free help line centre in the district to enable people to report cases of infiltration from Assam. In their letter to the Deputy Commissioner of the district, the federation, while appreciating the measures being taken up by the district administration said that infiltration was still continuing and has raised more concern of the same taking place in the plain belt areas of Phulbari which is close to Dubhri District of Assam across the River Jinjiram. “Phulbari and Dhubri district of Assam shares a border with the river Jinjiram. Keeping in view that people that are left out from the final draft might infiltrate inside our state through this river by boats and other means, we would like to urge upon you to view the region with cautiousness and take effective measures expeditiously for the better,” the federation said. Pointing out that there have also been social media posts of NGOs and local leaders detecting infiltrators from Assam, the federation informed that it had directed all district circles and units to be vigilant and report the presence of doubtful persons to the nearest authority. “In order for our people and others to report any such incidents before any law and order problem arises, we request that a help line centre (toll free) is set up,” it said in its appeal to the DC.
Polythene, thermocol banned in WGH from Aug 15
TURA: West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh has issued an order prohibiting the use of polythene with a thickness of less than 50 microns, including plastic cups, plates and thermocol from August 15 onwards. The order, which comes under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code and rule 12(4) of the Plastic Waste Management rules, 2016 will come into effect in the entire West Garo Hills District. Any person found violating the provisions of the mentioned rules shall be penalized under Section 15 of the Environment Protection Act (EPA), 1986 (imprisonment with term up to 5 years with fine which may extend to Rs 1 lakh or with both, and in case of failure to comply, with additional fine, which may extend to Rs 5,000/- everyday).