Vet hospital to come up in Shillong
Minister in charge of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Alexander Laloo Hek today said the government will soon set up the first-ever full-fledged veterinary hospital in Shillong.
“A detailed project report is being prepared for the setting up of the veterinary hospital at an estimated cost of Rs 94 crore,” Hek told reporters.
He said the site for the project will be at Upper Shillong and the proposal will be submitted to the Centre for sanctioning of funds.
Meghalaya is yet to have its own full-fledged veterinary hospital despite completing 50 years of statehood.
Hek said that the state is presently equipped with only veterinary dispensaries under the Directorate of Veterinary in East Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills.
“Therefore, it is high time that we get a full-fledged veterinary hospital which will be a great blessing for the people of the state,” he added.
When asked, Hek said that the DPR will be completed by next month while adding that “we will immediately seek financial support from the Centre in order to speed up the setting up of this very important hospital in the state.”
Further, the minister informed that at present the state has over 17 veterinary mobile units which are functioning on a trial basis.
Stating that the state has over 264 veterinary doctors, Hek said, “Once the state has its own dedicated veterinary hospital, the department will find out ways and means to accommodate new doctors, veterinary assistants and other staff.”
Govt wants to turn Khyndailad into a pedestrian zone
Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh today said that the state government is committed to declaring Khyndailad a pedestrian zone.
“Our commitment will be to have at least one pedestrian zone immediately and that is Khyndailad. I also had a meeting with the Chief Minister and he is fully in line with the need to declare Khyndailad as a pedestrian zone,” Lyngdoh told reporters.
He said some access to local residents which will be on the basis of car passes will be issued but the entire area will be pedestrianized.
He said that the people who suffered most in Shillong are pedestrians as you have hawkers, you have motorists using every way and there is limited scope for people to walk around.
The minister further informed that they have already started declaration of parts of Shillong as no-honking zones.
“We are in the process. The district administration and the police are in constant touch and from the tourism department, we already started by declaring Orchid, Umiam as a no-honking zone and similarly, other units of the tourism department will also be declared as no honking zones because the USP of Meghalaya is the serenity, the quiet which is disturbed by loud honking and loud music which sometimes carries beyond permissible hours,” he added.
NEI expresses concern over harassment of church leaders
The Church Leaders of North East India under the ages of United Christian Forum of NEI today expressed their deep shock and concern as two senior Church elders from Meghalaya belonging to the Presbyterian Church of India were allegedly manhandled and falsely accused of initiating conversion when they visited Bihar at the invitation of the local Church there for post-Easter celebrations among the faithful.
The latest information issued by the SP East Khasi Hills District through a press release states that they are safe and will be given police protection as they head back home, UCFNEI spokesperson Allen Brooks said in a statement.
In another development, the Church Leaders expressed their deep pain and sorrow at the demolition of 3 Churches in East Manipur District immediately after Easter following the vacation of the operation of the interim status quo order earlier issued by the Honorable High Court of Manipur.
Under these circumstances, UNCFNEI appealed to all its faithful to continue to pray for peace and harmony while standing united, Brooks said.