CCTV surveillance to ensure safety in Iewduh

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 14: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) today decided to put Iewduh – the oldest traditional market in the region – under CCTV surveillance to ensure the safety and security of traders and the general public.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Committee on Safety, Security and Cleanliness of Iewduh was convened by the KHADC chief executive member (CEM) Pyniaid Sing Syiem and attended by EM in-charge market Grace Mary Kharpuri, EM in-charge development Carnes Sohshang and representatives of various localities – Mawkhar, Umsohsun, Mission Compound, Wahthapbru, Qualapatty, Riatsamthiah and Wahingdoh – besides officials from the district administration.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Syiem informed that the Committee has decided to seek funds from the Fifteen Finance Commission to construct and renovate public toilets, drainage systems and install new water pipes at Iewduh.

“The committee has also decided to install CCTV cameras and solar lightings in and around Iewduh to monitor any untoward incidents and to instil a sense of safety and security among the traders and market goers,” he said.

The CEM also said that the committee has also decided to conduct an inspection in Iewduh for the installation of a check gate to monitor the entry and exit of people and to prevent theft and anti-social elements, especially during nighttime.

Meanwhile, the committee has also decided to ban overnight staying in Iewduh and also to take action against shop owners who converted their shops into residence complexes and against those involved in gambling.

Sohiong polls: TMC candidate condemns rival’s statement

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate from Sohiong constituency, Stoding Thabah today condemned the statement made by NPP candidate on religious leaders at one of his political campaigns.

Speaking to media persons, Thabah alleged that the NPP candidate Samlin Malngiang in one of his campaigns has made ill statements against religious leaders of one particular faith, stating that pastors never practice what they preached.

The TMC Sohiong Block condemns the statement made by the NPP candidate and at the same time demands public apology for his statement.

The TMC candidate expressed confidence in winning the Sohiong polls and he claimed that sympathy votes will not play a big role as the UDP candidate Synshar Kurbah was against late HDR Lyngdoh during the 2018 election.

BJP for better education in Sohiong

Candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Seraph Eric Kharbuki has assured to fight for a degree college and a residential school in Sohiong constituency if elected as MLA in the upcoming election to be held on May 10.

Spelling out his priorities, Kharbuki told reporters today that his decision to contest in the up-coming is to become a leader or a people’s representative who will frame laws and policy and not merely a leader who is only concerned in distributing MLA schemes.

Kharbuki said that his objective of contesting the by-election is to serve the public of the constituency especially when it comes to education and to able to come up with policy that will benefit the farmers of the constituency and the state as whole

He added that he had vision for the need to have a degree college in Lum Diengiei and an Eklavya Residential School.

“Apart from schools and colleges in the constituency, I have also listed out in the manifesto to have a agriculture and horticulture office, state bank of India and Apex bank in Lum Diengiei, to promote tourism and sports in the constituency by constructing two mini stadium” said Kharbuki.

Kharbuki also stressed on the need to legalize direct funding through corpus funds to all Dorbar Shnong in order to implement various developmental schemes in all villages and to install street lights in various important localities in the constituency.

NPP in talks with PDF MLAs over merger

National People’s Party (NPP) National President and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma have informed that discussions with the two legislators of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) for merging with the party are on.

“Discussions will take place but as I said there is no final conclusion or anything yet. Therefore, we will wait and see when the time comes,” Sangma told reporters today.

Currently, the PDF has two MLAs – Banteidor Lyngdoh and Gavin M Mylliem- in the assembly.

If the proposed merger takes place, the strength of the National People’s Party will increase to 28 in the current 59-member House.

Earlier, Lyngdoh, who is also PDF working president had said, “Talks are on to merge with the NPP. We will take a call at the right time.”

Talks are on to merge the People’s Democratic Front, an ally of the ruling coalition in Meghalaya, with the NPP ahead of the May 10 poll to Sohiong assembly seat where election was adjourned in February, a PDF leader said on Thursday.

When asked, Lyngdoh said he cannot say anything further as decisions will not be taken by him alone.

Dry days declared in Sohiong

In view of the adjourned poll to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, the Deputy Commissioner (Excise) of East Khasi Hills district has declared May 8, 9 and 10, 2023 as dry days.

This is on account of these being the pre-polling and polling days. Also May 13 has been declared as a dry day on account of being the day of counting of votes.

This order is applicable in all areas falling under Sohiong (ST) Assembly Constituency.

ACHIK moves Court against communal imbalance

Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 5: The Achik Conscious Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK) has informed that its vice president Greneth M Sangma had approached the Meghalaya High Court for the protection against any sort of communal imbalance in the state and protection against any discrimination and danger against the Garo tribe living within the state of Meghalaya and Shillong specifically in view of the issue related to the roster system and implementation of the reservation policy.

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In a statement issued today, the ACHIK said that the High Court had given assurance that if any kind of disturbance or communal if need arises, the High Court is open to hearing the plea but since at present only the statement is doing round and no actual communal act has been committed by any group or section of the individual.

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The ACHIK said the PIL filed by its vice president Greneth M Sangma stands un-entertained but with an option to approach and inform HC if any crisis is evoked in any manner in future. The High Court also assured that the roster system cannot be affected, since it is just and fair, it added.

Judiciary leaves details of roster system to executive, legislature

Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 4: The Meghalaya High Court today said how far back the roster system would be made applicable, these are policy matters that are best left to the legislature and the executive of the state.

In its order, the division bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee has dismissed a PIL filed by one Greneth M Sangma without going into the merits of the matter pertaining to the roster system for reserved seats in the State and said, “The Court may be called upon to look into the matter at a more appropriate stage.”

The Court said the judicial notice needs to be taken of the discussions pertaining to the roster in the new Assembly.

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“However, it does not appear that any decision has yet been taken as to a cut-off date or the like or how far back the roster system would be made applicable. These are policy matters that are best left to the legislature and the executive and upon a firm stand being taken, it will be open to any citizen affected thereby to question the propriety thereof in accordance with law,” it said while adding that “As of now, and without a decision in such regard having been taken by the Assembly which is actively discussing the matter, the present petition should not be entertained.”

The Court also stated that this petition, apparently filed in the public interest, appears to be an attempt to muddy the already disturbed waters.

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The order said it was discovered in the year 2022, quite accidentally in course of a service matter before a Division Bench of this Court, that though the reservation policy had been in place in this State since its inception in January, 1972, there was no roster that had been prepared.

Accordingly, this Court took suo motu cognisance of such irregularity and required all appointments to be stayed till a roster was prepared.

Certain ancillary directions were also issued. A roster was prepared.

The Court noticed that a roster had been prepared and the matter was given a quietus without going into the veracity of the roster that was prepared and upon prima facie satisfaction that the roster adhered to the extent of reservation of about 85 per cent that is in vogue in the State, the order stated.