SHILLONG: The FKJGP has removed the restrictions on entry into Mawjymbuin Cave in Mawsynram following a meeting convened by Chief Executive Member of KHADC, Pynshngainlang N Syiem on Monday.
The decision was taken at a hearing convened by the CEM in his office chamber here on Monday which was attended by the acting Syiem of Hima Mawsynram Amos Malngiang, Rangbah Shnong of Mawsynram Artowell Kharchandy and members of the FKJGP East Khasi Hills and Mawsynram Circle.
The FKJGP Mawsynram circle had recently imposed a ban on religious rituals in the cave. They were alleging that the acting Syiem of Hima Mawsynram had issued an NOC allowing religious ceremonies at the Mawjymbuin cave.
Talking to reporters after the hearing, the CEM said he had decided to hand over the matter to the concerned Dorbar Shnong since it was the responsibility of the Dorbar Shnong to take care of the tourist spot.
The KHADC has also decided to given full authority to the Dorbar Shnong to decide on whether they wanted to allow religious ceremonies at the cave.
Meanwhile, the FKJGP claimed that the Rangbah Shnong of Mawsynram has assured them that he would not allow any religious activity inside the cave.
SHILLONG: Cherrapunjee, may be a brand name for the State in so far as tourism promotion is concerned but the State Tourism department is yet to cover a long distance with regards to infrastructure development to make Cherrapunjee a sought after destination across the international tourism circuit.
If one goes by the words of the tourists who visit the area, the place has tremendous potentialities but lack of infrastructure is a major obstacle which restricts tourist movement to the once rainiest place in the world.
A tourist couple who visited Sohra on Monday, while talking to this scribe, said, “The place is beautiful but it lacks good hotels and lodges which would have had attracted many more tourists than the number visiting presently.”
Another tourist from West Bengal, while appreciating the picturesque sceneries in and around Sohra, said, “Food is also a problem here as I being an Indian tourist miss the traditional Indian food and a comfortable stay in this beautiful place.”
Sub Divisional Officer (SDO), Sohra, James Suchiang, was of the opinion that every day around 2000 to 2500 tourists visit Sohra and the number would only increase in the coming years.
“This place has a brand name and irrespective of lack of infrastructure hundreds of tourists visit this place,” Suchiang added while talking to this scribe.
“The confidence of the people needs to be boosted to further promote the tourism sector here,” Suchiang added.
The State Government, had, earlier mooted introduction of a 1.5-km cable car system in Sohra at an estimated cost of Rs 12 crore.
The project, which was expected to give a boost to the tourism scenario, however, has not yet seen the light of the day.
The holdup, according to official sources, is attributed to the delay in identification of the site for laying the cable car system.
“The project has to be examined carefully and views of the stakeholders including Rangbah Shnongs must be taken before going ahead with the construction,” Suchaing said, while maintaining that there were several other grey areas where things needed improvement.
The official also sounded confident that a number of good hotels are coming up in Sohra and once these hotels start operating, they would definitely add to the tourist flow into Cherrapunjee.
The State Government, had, a few years back, come up with the ‘bed and breakfast’ scheme for tourists but the initiative failed to generate any impact in the area.
However, the Government official believed that fresh attempts could be made to implement the ‘bed and breakfast’ scheme in Sohra by involving the local residents. Meanwhile, J Rangad Phanbuh, owner of Sai-Mi-Ka Resort in Sohra, while talking to this scribe mentioned that the State Government should be more proactive if it wanted to maintain or improve tourist flow into Sohra.
“The Government needs to do a lot as there are only four or five resorts in Sohra,” she said, while stating that tourist flow this year has been better than the previous years.
SHILLONG: The Opposition NCP on Monday slammed the Congress-led MUA Government for the land swap agreement with Bangladesh following which the State is set to give away 40 acres of its land to the neighbouring country.
Talking to The Shillong Times here, Leader of Opposition Conrad Sangma stated that the people of Dawki were not happy with the decision and they have expressed their discontentment to the party.
“According to the villagers the 280 acres which we are getting was ours originally and we are ultimately losing 40 acres of our land. So it’s not really a gain for us,” Sangma said, while referring to a statement by Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, who claimed that the State would be gaining 240 acres of land under adverse possession of Bangladesh. The NCP leader also expressed doubt over whether the Government had consulted the affected local people of the border areas before going ahead with the deal, saying nothing has been forthcoming from the Government in this regard.
Sangma also stated that the Government must go and talk to the local people and explain them the ground situation.
TURA: An attempt to extort hard currency from a local coal baron of Garo Hills by Rabha dacoits was successfully foiled by East Garo Hills police who managed to nab two of the prime suspects from the Assam-Meghalaya border near Bajengdoba on Monday afternoon.
The extortionists, who were posing as GNLA militants, had demanded five lakh rupees from a coal baron, Lawin G Marak of New Gabil village, who had business interests in the coal belt of Nangalbibra in South Garo Hills.
The extortionists’ modus operandi was simple — they first enrolled as coal laborers in Nangalbibra where they got to know the activities of the coal barons and their telephone numbers. The extortionists’ would then make a call for the money in the name of GNLA.
Police teams from Songsak and Mendipather police stations zeroed in on the gang after it was found that the demands were being made from neighbouring Assam’s Goalpara district in close proximity to Bajengdoba.
The criminals ordered the coal baron to transport the extortion money, which had been scaled down from five lakhs to fifty thousand, to a secluded spot between Bajengdoba in Garo Hills to Paikan area of Goalpara in Assam.
A special team of police commandos from Garo Hills raided the spot and managed to nab the kingpins Parimal Rabha (21) of Kuthipara village in Goalpara and Kamaleshwar Rabha of Sellapara village under Krishnai police station.
Both the criminals were caught at Darakona village on the inter-state border near Bajengdoba while waiting to collect the extortion money from their victim.
One of the criminals identified as Boluram Rabha of Bordak village under Goalpara police station managed to escape the police dragnet during the operation.
TURA: The Garo Students’ Union (GSU), Northern Zone, has taken a decision to strongly oppose the appointment of controversial police officer TC Chako as the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Resubelpara in East Garo Hills.
The student body held an emergent meeting to discuss the State Government’s recent proposal to promote Circle Inspector Chacko as the new SDPO of Resubelpara.
The union accused the officer of being responsible for the killing of a labourer in a fake encounter in Williamnagar during the early part of this year.
“Such a controversial officer in the department maintaining law and order will not be trustworthy. It is feared that the officer with such a controversial background will see the people, particularly the youth, with suspicious eyes and create fear psychosis thereby worsening the situation,” the GSU stated.
The student body has threatened not to allow the police officer to set foot in Resubelpara sub-division and warned that if the government insists on his posting it would lead to an agitation by the union.
JOWAI: Two persons, Silbak Marak (20) and Duwing Marak (20), died on the spot while two others, Chanang Marak and Markas Sangma, were critically injured after they were hit by a truck on Monday evening at a place near PHE Store, Myntdu on the Jowai-Shillong highway.
Sources informed that all four pedestrians were walking home from their work when they met with the tragic incident. Traffic Police personnel rushed to the spot and immediately shifted the injured persons to Jowai Civil Hospital. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination.
The 15 contestants of the Miss Shillong Pageant 2011 along with the 5 judges at Shillong Club here on Monday. (ST)
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: After a month of grooming and preparations, the contestants of the Miss Shillong Pageant 2011 are now ready to walk the ramp with utmost confidence and poise displaying their talents in front of the judges and a huge crowd on the grand finale which will be held at Shillong Club on Saturday.
The stature of the annual Miss Shillong event organised by the Fashion Society of Shillong (FSS) has come up with more creative ways to impart the young ladies with better personality development and life skills.
It was noticed that for the past month, the contestants had been involved in various activities in tandem with this year’s theme “More Than A Woman” which would enable them to understand the real deal of life and its purpose.
To enable the contestants to be confident and prepared for the grand finale when questions are presented to them, the FSS organised an interaction session at Shillong Club on Monday between the young ladies and the judges to enable the girls know the kind of questions being asked and at the same time to eliminate their fear and nervousness during the question round on the final day.
“This interaction session is probably an opportunity for both the judges and the contestants to know each other personally and also to remove that fear from each contestant when questions are being asked to them during the finals”, Chairman of FSS, Aldous Mawlong told The Shillong Times here on Monday.
Meanwhile, reacting to a query, one of the judges, Dr Shakuntala, who is a lecturer in the Guwahati University said this interaction session is our chance to get to know the girls before the final day. “Through this, we got a chance to know the girls personally and also gathered little information on their opinion regarding various issues”, she added.
However when asked on the chances and opportunities that await these ladies, Dr Shakuntala said “It not only depends merely on the title but it also depends on how these ladies are going to utilize their skills and talents in the future”, she said while adding that they are looking for a personality who is ready to utilize her skills in the best possible way.
There are altogether 6 judges for the final day.
Altogether 15 contestants were present during the interaction session.
SHILLONG: According to a study conducted in Ri-Bhoi district, it is learnt that the routine measles vaccination coverage has reached only 67% in the State which still makes Meghalaya the poorest state to score in terms of Measles immunization among the North Eastern States.
“This is due to the lack of awareness on the importance of immunization”, State nodal Officer, Measles catch-up campaign, Meghalaya Dr MR Basaiawmoit informed reporters here on Monday.
Mizoram is the only state that has achieved near total immunity, so in order to reach the targeted percentage of total immunity, the second dose of measles vaccine in the Routine Immunization (RI) programme will be carried out in 14 states with measles vaccine coverage below 80%, including Meghalaya as per the Govt. of India directive.
And in tune to this need, a sensitization workshop on Measles Catch-up Campaign was held at the Conference Hall of Heath Centre here on Monday.
The campaign will be launched on October 10 in the three district of the State namely East Khasi hills, West Khasi hills and Jaintia hills and would continue till October 31 this year.
Giving an overview, Dr MR Basaiawmoit informed the media that nearly, six lakhs sixty six thousand children are targeted to be covered in three districts of the State with East Khasi hills targeting one lakh seventy thousand. The Phase-2 campaign will cover children across the entire state. The campaign will be taken to schools and fixed posts that would be set up for vaccination in various areas including remote areas in the state. “This is a one-time opportunity to achieve full immunity from Measles and people should take full advantage of the programme,” Dr Basaiawmoit added.
Meanwhile, Surveillance Medical Officer, National Polio Surveillance Project (NPSP) under the World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr N Roy said Measles vaccine is provided free of cost but what is important is to motivate the mothers and children to get the vaccination. The Measles Catch-up Campaign proposes to immunize nearly 100 per cent of children in the target age group of 9 months to below ten years.
SHILLONG: The Kur Saw Kpoh Lyngdoh Buam on Monday gave away the the Rabon Sing Literary Award in presence of Parliamentary Secretary, Govt. of Meghalaya Dr. P.W Khongjee as the chief guest and Vice Chairman, MIDC Titos Chyneas the guest of honour.
This Literary Award was given in commemoration of the 100 years death centenary of Rabon Sing, a renowned Khasi author of Meghalaya.
The students who received the Awards are Ms. Shailiba Khongkhrian, MA Khasi Topper (Rs. 15,000/-), Ms. Ibaphyrnai Kurbah, BA Khasi Topper (Rs. 15,000/-) and Ms. Rika Thein BA Khasi Topper from Sohra Constituency (Rs. 10,000/-). All these students passed in the 2011 Examination, under NEHU. The students passing the SSLC 2011 Examination who are toppers in Khasi are Ms. Larisha Nongkynrih and Ms. Banrikmenlang Pde, both received an amount of Rs. 5,000/- each.
The Principal of St. anthony’s College, Rev. Fr (Dr.) I Warpakma who was also present in the occasion praised the Kur Saw Kpoh Lyngdoh Buam for having initiated such awards.
SHILLONG: After a month of grooming and preparations, the contestants of the Miss Shillong Pageant 2011 are now ready to walk the ramp with utmost confidence and poise displaying their talents in front of the judges and a huge crowd on the grand finale which will be held at Shillong Club on Saturday.
The stature of the annual Miss Shillong event organised by the Fashion Society of Shillong (FSS) has come up with more creative ways to impart the young ladies with better personality development and life skills.
It was noticed that for the past month, the contestants had been involved in various activities in tandem with this year’s theme “More Than A Woman” which would enable them to understand the real deal of life and its purpose.
To enable the contestants to be confident and prepared for the grand finale when questions are presented to them, the FSS organised an interaction session at Shillong Club on Monday between the young ladies and the judges to enable the girls know the kind of questions being asked and at the same time to eliminate their fear and nervousness during the question round on the final day.
“This interaction session is probably an opportunity for both the judges and the contestants to know each other personally and also to remove that fear from each contestant when questions are being asked to them during the finals”, Chairman of FSS, Aldous Mawlong told The Shillong Times here on Monday.
Meanwhile, reacting to a query, one of the judges, Dr Shakuntala, who is a lecturer in the Guwahati University said this interaction session is our chance to get to know the girls before the final day. “Through this, we got a chance to know the girls personally and also gathered little information on their opinion regarding various issues”, she added.
However when asked on the chances and opportunities that await these ladies, Dr Shakuntala said “It not only depends merely on the title but it also depends on how these ladies are going to utilize their skills and talents in the future”, she said while adding that they are looking for a personality who is ready to utilize her skills in the best possible way.
There are altogether 6 judges for the final day.
Altogether 15 contestants were present during the interaction session.
