School project delay irks group
TURA, Nov 8: The Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC) from Pedaldoba has urged Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs to look into the prolonged delay to set up the already sanctioned Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) at Raksamgre. In a statement issued here on Monday, the committee claimed that a total of Rs 20 crore was sanctioned for the construction of the school for which the foundation stone was laid on March 6, 2019, by the GHADC CEM and local MLA, Benedic R Marak, in the presence of West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh. According to the committee, the Land Reservation Committee of Salbaripara has even donated a 12.4 acres plot of land for its construction and an agreement towards the same was also signed by the committee in the presence of Ram Singh. “The construction is being delayed for reasons best known to the authorities. We urge the Chief Minister as well as the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs to look into the matter so that sanctioned amount can be utilized,” it said.
Intimidation of Bishop condemned
TURA, Nov 8: The Garo Hills Catholic Union (GHCU) on Monday strongly condemned the incident in which several members of a pressure group, AHAM, allegedly trespassed into the Bishop’s House in Tura and intimidated Tura Bishop Rev Andrew R Marak to remove Parish Priest of Mendipathar, Fr CA Thomas, within seven days or face dire consequences. According to the union, the shocking incident took place on October 19 following which the matter was conveyed by the Bishop to Fr Thomas and he was asked to go for Administrative leave to his native place. Following the development, a meeting was held by all the members of the GHCU where the alleged illegal act of the AHAM leaders was unanimously condemned. It was also resolved that no such interference or intrusion into the internal matters of the Catholic Church either at the Parish or Diocese level would be tolerated by the union. The members have also decided to initiate legal proceedings against all those involved in the incident
Ban on poisoning water bodies
NONGPOH, Nov 8: The District Magistrate of Ri Bhoi has issued an order prohibiting any person or organisation from indulging in or resorting to the act of poisoning of rivers, streams or other water bodies with the explicit or implicit intention to cause large scale destruction of aquatic life which will extend to all major and minor rivers and water bodies within the District. The order was necessitated in view of the large scale poisoning of rivers, streams and other water bodies occurring within the district which may result in extermination of fishes and other aquatic life and potentially endanger local fish population, flora and fauna, besides posing a serious health hazard to human life with the use of the poisonous water.