Meghalaya Nuggets

Guv urges Red Cross to expand outreach, engage youth volunteers

SHILLONG, Oct 27: Governor CH Vijayashankar on Tuesday urged the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), Meghalaya State Branch, to expand its humanitarian programmes, widen its outreach, and enlist more young volunteers so relief services reach every corner of the state. Chairing the Society’s Annual General Meeting as its President at Lok Bhavan, Shillong, the Governor commended the organisation’s relief work and called for collective action on pressing social and environmental challenges, including teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, and the ecological impact of monoculture. He noted that active community participation is vital to safeguarding public health and the environment. The meeting took up four key agenda items: confirmation of the minutes of the previous AGM held on December 3, 2025; adoption of the Annual Report for 2025–2026; adoption of the audited accounts for the period; and a proposal for a new building for the Society. Backing the infrastructure plan, Vijayashankar said a dedicated, well-equipped facility would give the Society a permanent base to streamline administration, coordinate humanitarian activities, conduct training, and improve emergency responses. He called on all stakeholders to extend full support to execute the project. Additional Chief Secretary to the Governor HC Chaudhary and IRCS Meghalaya Branch Chairman Paiem Laborious Manik S Syiem also attended the meeting.

Ex-Shillong Diocesan Administrator Fr John Madur passes away at 67

SHILLONG, Oct 27: The former Diocesan Administrator of the Archdiocese of Shillong, Rev. Fr John Madur, passed away at Nazareth Hospital here on Tuesday afternoon. He was 67. According to a notice issued by the Archdiocese of Shillong, Fr Madur breathed his last at around 2.50 pm. Born on December 10, 1958, he was ordained as a priest on December 20, 1987, and served the Church for nearly four decades. He took charge as the Diocesan Administrator following the death of Archbishop Dominic Jala in October 2019 and served in the role until 2021. Over the years, he also held key responsibilities as Vicar General and Chancellor of the Archdiocese, as well as Director of Christ King College. A concelebrated Requiem Mass was scheduled at the Archbishop’s House in Laitumkhrah at 6.30 pm on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Central Puja Committee (CPC), Meghalaya, expressed deep sorrow over Fr Madur’s sudden demise. Recalling his role as one of the two founding Vice Presidents of the Shillong All Faiths Forum (SAFF), the CPC noted his close cooperation with civil society, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and extended heartfelt condolences to his family, peers, and the faithful.

Students’ body questions Kharlukhi over JH coal mining remarks

JOWAI, Oct 27: The Khasi Jaintia Youth and Students’ Union (KJYSU) has questioned former Member of Parliament W. Kharlukhi over his recent remarks supporting the revival of coal mining in the Jaintia Hills. Kharlukhi had recently stated, “I will be very happy if they can really revive coal mining in Jaintia Hills.” In response, the Union asked why Kharlukhi had remained silent on the issue during his tenure as an MP representing the National People’s Party (NPP). The youth body questioned why he chose to speak out only after leaving the party, now voicing his opinions merely as a private citizen. The Union noted that the coal mining deadlock in Jaintia Hills has persisted for 12 years, accusing the government of making repeated promises without resuming mining activities on the ground. The KJYSU added that if the state administration is unable to reopen coal mining, the Union is prepared to offer workable solutions. It insisted that if the Meghalaya government genuinely cannot resolve the issue, it should be transparent and inform the public directly.

Two Shillong Met officials to join expedition to Antarctica

SHILLONG, Oct 27: Two officials from the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) Meteorological Centre in Shillong, Partik Kumar and Dheeraj Chaudhary, are set to join the 46th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica. The Shillong centre hosted a farewell for the duo ahead of their departure to represent the IMD in the polar mission. Addressing the gathering, Thangjalal Lhouvum, Scientist-D and Head of the Meteorological Centre, Shillong, commended their dedication and noted that meteorological data collected in Antarctica remains vital to tracking climate variability and global climate patterns. He also urged the officials to maintain high professional standards and strictly observe all safety protocols under the continent’s extreme conditions. The Centre extended its best wishes to both officials for a safe and successful mission.

CPC concludes post-immersion clean-up of Wahumkhrah

SHILLONG, Oct 27: The Central Puja Committee (CPC), Meghalaya, on Tuesday concluded its post-immersion cleanup drive along the designated stretch of the Wahumkhrah river, retrieving bamboo and wooden idol frames and clearing religious waste from the water. The operation, which began on October 23, faced logistical challenges due to ongoing construction work for the riverfront development project. Excavators, usually deployed to lift submerged structures from the riverbed, could not access the river as the construction of an access ramp remains incomplete. To overcome the hurdle, the committee deployed cranes on both riverbanks to haul the heavy materials out of the water. The debris was loaded onto Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) trucks and transported to the municipal dumping ground. The SMB also provided sanitation workers to assist with the final manual cleaning. Temporary low-height check dams, erected across the river to prevent idol frames and waste from drifting downstream, were dismantled on Tuesday afternoon to restore normal water flow. According to the CPC, religious materials are prohibited from being immersed directly into the river and are instead collected in designated enclosures before being transported to the landfill. The entire exercise was supervised by the CPC’s Immersion Ghat Management Committee as part of its annual pre and post-immersion sanitation protocol.