SHILLONG : The Meghalaya government has ordered a status quo on all works related to Shree Cement until a fact-finding inquiry is completed, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on Wednesday following talks with the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on its five-point charter of demands.
The meeting was attended by both Deputy Chief Ministers, senior government officials and the top leadership of the KSU.
Probe ordered into Shree Cement public hearing
Sangma said one of the KSU’s key demands was the scrapping of the public hearing for the Shree Cement project over allegations that people were prevented from attending and that environmental and stakeholder concerns were not adequately considered.
The Chief Minister said the government considers Shree Cement, one of India’s major cement producers, an important investment for Meghalaya’s economic growth and maintained that the public hearing was conducted according to law.
However, he agreed to constitute a fact-finding committee headed by a senior official independent of the district administration to examine the allegations.
All work will remain under status quo until the inquiry is completed.
Meghalaya pushes MRSSA registration through mobile technology
On the implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016, Sangma said tenant registration has increased across the state but acknowledged the challenges of providing computers, operators and other infrastructure to nearly 6,500–7,000 villages and localities.
The government is developing a mobile-based system that will allow face scanning and document uploads to a central database, which is expected to speed up registration.
Sangma also said the government is seeking greater involvement from traditional heads and headmen in the registration process.
Umling facility to include facilitation centre
Clarifying the controversy surrounding the upcoming structure at Umling, Sangma said the facility was always intended to house a tourist facilitation centre.
“There was miscommunication where the word ‘food court’ was used. Yes, there will be a food court but the first part is going to be a facilitation centre,” he said.
The facilitation centre will initially cover around 1,000 square feet, with the option to expand it to 3,000 square feet.
A joint inspection will be conducted, and the government aims to make the centre operational before Christmas. Land for the proposed facilitation centres at Ratacherra and Athiabari is yet to be acquired.
Migrant Workers Act amendments to be implemented
On the Migrant Workers Act, 2020, the Chief Minister said recent amendments have clarified inspection responsibilities and introduced provisions allowing police verification either through the Superintendent of Police of a worker’s native district or through the CCTNS network.
The system will be rolled out after a month-long training programme.
Government to address NEIGRIHMS recruitment concerns
Sangma said NEIGRIHMS recruitment is outside the direct control of the state government as the institute functions independently.
However, he said he has taken up the issue with the Union Health Minister and would facilitate a meeting between KSU representatives and the Union Minister.
The state government would also provide logistical support for recruitment examinations, he added.
Recruitment reforms underway
On recruitment reforms, Sangma said interviews for Group-D posts have already been abolished, while interviews for non-technical Group-C posts will be removed from January 2027.
He said the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for District Selection Committees have been cleared, while 19 of the 23 reforms recommended for the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) have been implemented.
The demand to restrict MPSC recruitment to state residents, similar to the system followed in Assam, will also be examined.
According to Sangma, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong will examine the proposal next week, particularly its legal sustainability.