32 applicants for coal prospecting license
Staff Reporter
Shillong, Sept 22: At present, there are 32 applicants who have submitted their application as per the SOP issued by the Government on March 5, 2021, for the grant of a prospecting license for coal.
Out of these 17 applicants have received approval from the Central government and they are now in the exploration stage for generating a Geological Report before obtaining mining leases, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said in his reply to a starred question tabled in the Assembly on Friday.
Further, 4 out of the 17 approved applicants, after they have submitted their Geological Report, have received prior approval of the Central government for a mining lease in the State and the presentation of the Mining plan is completed and approval of the mining plans is awaited, he said while informing that 15 applicants are yet to obtain prior approval of the Central government for prospecting license.
Teachers unhappy with non-release of dues
The All Meghalaya Fourth Teachers Association Garo Hills Unit (AM4thTA GHU) has expressed unhappiness due to the non-release of their three–month salary.
The association said that the 4th teachers are yet to receive their salary for January to March 2023 and are facing lots of problems with their daily wages even going to school.
The association in its memorandum to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Education Minister Rakkam Sangma and also to the DSEL officers too on March 17 had demanded regularization of 1521 fourth teachers services, equal salary at par with Adhoc Upper Primary School teachers and to ensure regular disbursement of salary to teachers respective accounts and 5 per cent annual increment for Meghalaya 4th Teachers.
“If the MDA 2.0 government neglects the teachers’ salary then how will the teachers go to school with an empty stomach and empty pockets as they are without salary for three months? Therefore, the association requested the chief minister and education minister to look into the matter and ensure speedy release of our 3-month salary,” the president of the association Tengrang K Sangma said.