NEHU employees to get hill allowance this month

Shillong, Dec 25 : The North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) has decided to include Hills Area Special Allowance (HASA) in the employees' salary for the month of December in the wake of continuing agitation over the discontinuation of the HASA.

The decision has been taken to match the spirit of Christmas festivities, NEHU Vice-Chancellor Prof P Tandon said adding that the issue has already been taken up with the HRD Ministry and the UGC.

As per the decision 20 per cent of the December salary, that was held back, would be released before the end of this month, the university said in a statement.

The university authorities also appealed to all its employees to withdraw their ongoing agitation.

READ MORE - NEHU employees to get hill allowance this month

Meghalaya witnessed political turmoil in 2009

Shillong, Dec 25 (PTI) Political instability has been a hallmark of Meghalaya ever since it attained statehood in 1972, and 2009 only reinforced this fact.

The fall of the NCP-led government in March scripted just another chapter in the long history of political instability in Meghalaya.

The 12-month-old NCP-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA), which collapsed three days before it was to complete one year in office, was the 20th government the state had in its 36-year history.

The flutter began in mid February when one of the Independent MLAs, supporting the Opposition Congress, switched sides.

Barely 10 days after it won a by-poll to increase its tally in the assembly, the Congress got a shot in arm when two Independents and the lone MLA from a regional party (Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement) switched over to its side from the ruling coalition.

READ MORE - Meghalaya witnessed political turmoil in 2009

Meghalaya to hand over 2 hydel power projects to pvt cos

Guwahati December 23

After keeping in abeyance for two years, the Meghalaya government has finally decided to hand over two 450 Mw each hydel power projects to private companies for execution. The two projects are – Kynshi stage I and Kynshi Stage II. Whereas the Hyderabad-based Athena Power will develop the former, the later will be developed by Jaypee Group. A total of Rs 7,000 crore investment is expected from the two companies for developing both the projects.

The MoUs (memorandum of understanding) with the two companies will be signed soon, and the project works would commence within next six months, government sources informed. The projects will be developed under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) mode, where the private companies will own the projects for a period of 40 years each.

Both the projects are on river Kynshi in West Khasi Hills district. In 2007, the Meghalaya government had come up with a new power policy to facilitate private investment in the state. Later, it floated expression of interests (EoI) for five big power projects; and as many as 30 small and big companies, such as Jaypee Group, Jindal Group, Essar, Athena, had evinced interests to take up the projects.

But due to vehement opposition from few civil organisations, who smelt foul play in the bidding process, the projects were kept in suspension.

Government sources said that so as to “avoid legal complications”, the state government had no other option but to go ahead with the projects. Earlier, a committee headed by former Meghalaya chief secretary Ranjan Chatterjee, which was formed to look into the consequences of scrapping the projects, had directed the government to go ahead with the projects to avoid legal complications, sources added.

Meghalaya, which was once a power surplus state, is now plagued by severe power crisis. The peak hour demand for power in the state is around 650 Mw while the state generates around 185 Mw. Meghalaya will get 12 per cent of total power generated free of cost from the two projects.

Sources also added that given the vast coal reserves the state has, the Meghalaya government was exploring the possibilities in setting up coal-based thermal power projects.

Meghalaya’s hydro power generating potential is estimated to be around 4,000 Mw.

READ MORE - Meghalaya to hand over 2 hydel power projects to pvt cos

Nepal to take a leaf out of Meghalaya book

SHILLONG, Dec 23 : A nine-member delegation of the High Level Task Force, Nepal has landed in the State to study the indigenous tribes of Meghalaya that could help them in drafting the new constitution of Nepal.

The Nepali team, including four members of Nepal’s Constituent Assembly, called on State Chief Minister DD Lapang today.

The HLTF delegation, led by Convener of the High Level Task Force (HLTF) Dr Om Gurung, arrived in Shillong on December 20 on recommendation by the Union Ministry of External Affairs that they should study the indigenous tribes of the State before drafting the constitution of Nepal. The delegation also met the KHADC Chairman, the Syiem of Hima Khyrim and some NEHU professors to discus the traditional customs and practices of the Khasis.

READ MORE - Nepal to take a leaf out of Meghalaya book

Meghalaya governor, chief minister's christmas message to the state

Shillong: Love, care, goodwill and cheerfulness are the ingredients in celebrating the spirit of true Christmas, Meghalaya governor RS Mooshahary has said.

Therefore, Christmas "should carry the spirit of brotherhood, peace and prosperity," Mooshahary said during a pre-Christmas celebration Raj Bhavan last evening.

In his message, chief minister DD Lapang called upon the people to make the celebrations meaningful.

He also appealed to all to extend their full cooperation to the government its effort to bring development in the state.

Christmas is one of the biggest religious festival of this Christian-majority hill state.

READ MORE - Meghalaya governor, chief minister's christmas message to the state

Meghalaya revives power projects

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Government has revived two giant hydro-electric projects, giving its nod to two private companies to develop them on build-own-operate-transfer basis.

The Hyderabad-based Athena Power will develop the 450-MW Kynshi Stage One Project, while Jai Prakash Power Ventures Ltd will execute the 450 MW Kynshi Stage Two project — both over Kynshi river in West Khasi Hills district.

The projects, along with three others, were kept in suspension for two years after several protests from organisations.

The protesting groups had alleged that the Government had violated the State’s power policy by not going for international competitive bidding to optimise benefits. The State Power Minister, Mr Mukul Sangma, said an estimated investment of about Rs 7,000 crore would be required for the two projects and the MoU with the companies would be signed soon.

READ MORE - Meghalaya revives power projects

Meghalaya’s Garo tribe wants to go separate

The Congress in the Northeast is facing the statehood music the UPA government composed on Telangana last week. And the party is expecting the opening notes — marathon shutdowns across tribal councils in Assam beginning Monday — to be jarring.

The statehood chorus has hit Congress-ruled Meghalaya too, with the nod for Telangana having stoked the Garoland fire that the Home Ministry had almost doused during a meeting with separatist militants this September.

The Garos, one of the three major matrilineal tribes of Meghalaya, have been demanding a separate Garoland comprising the western half of the cloud-kissed state. Like the other statehood demands in the Northeast, militants hijacked the demand for Garoland, comprising three districts: the South Garo Hills, East Garo Hills and West Garo Hills.

In Assam, the newly-formed United Democratic Peoples’ Front (UDPF), backed by Congress ally Bodoland Peoples’ Front, has called for a two-day state shutdown from Monday. The Indigenous Tribal Peoples’ Front has supported the call.

“There can be no alternative to Bodoland, not after Telengana,” said UDPF general secretary Bhraman Baglary. “If the Centre can honour the demands of separatists in a mainland state, it must not ignore similar demands from the country’s fringes.”

READ MORE - Meghalaya’s Garo tribe wants to go separate

Uranium ghost returns to haunt Meghalaya in 2009

Shillong, Dec 21 (PTI) Hopes were rekindled in mid 2009 that the proposed uranium mining project in Meghalaya will finally see the light of the day but these were dashed towards the end of the year by renewed protests prompting the government to put it in on the back burner.

Within three months of clinching power after the collapse of the NCP-led coalition of regional parties, the Congress-led government headed by Chief Minister D D Lapang sought to break the deadlock over the uranium mining project that has been hanging fire over two decades now.

The Lapang cabinet on August 24 decided to lease 422 hectares of land to the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) for 30 years in the uranium-rich West Khasi Hills district for "pre-project" developmental works.

READ MORE - Uranium ghost returns to haunt Meghalaya in 2009

Meghalaya officers penalised for RTI failure

Shillong, Dec 20 (PTI) Seven public information officers of Meghalaya have been penalised for failure to provide information under provisions of Right to Information.

Disciplinary action was taken against two of them, while five others, including an Inspector of School and a Project Director of DRDA, were slapped with fines ranging from Rs 2000 to Rs 7500, according to the 2008 annual report of Meghalaya Information Commission released recently.

According to the report, out of a total number of 360 requests received under RTI Act, 335 were disposed off during the year and the remaining 25 were pending.

PWD department received the highest number of 63 requests, followed by Forests and Environment (47) and Health and Family Welfare (28).

The number of complaints relating to refusal of information by government departments in the year was 59.

READ MORE - Meghalaya officers penalised for RTI failure

Lapang slams Meghalaya militants on bandh

Shillong, Dec 19 (PTI) Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang today slammed the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) for calling a 24-hour bandh and said people do not "accept" the outfit. The bandh, in protest against Union Home minister P Chidambaram''s visit, evoked a mixed response in the state.

Banks and some other business establishments were closed. In some localities here and other parts of the state shopkeepers defied the bandh call, officials said.

Lapang said, "Shopkeepers keeping shops open show that the people do not accept HNLC." Traffic was thin on the highways and no untoward incident was reported, the police said. The outfit said the bandh was a "protest against the Centre which has failed to address the problems of the indigenous people".

Describing Chidambaram''s visit as a "political mistake", HNLC in an email yesterday said, "Such mistakes have brought trouble to the people of the state."

READ MORE - Lapang slams Meghalaya militants on bandh

Uranium found in Meghalaya

RAJYA SABHA

Khasi Students Union is opposing the Uranium mining on the ground of influx of outsiders into Meghalaya and perceived health hazard in the mining and adjoining areas.

The Department of Atomic Energy and Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) have for the last five years been regularly conducting Awareness Programme to clear the misconceptions regarding uranium mining in West Khasi Hills of Meghalaya and also addressing the economic and environmental concerns. Community development programmes about the benefits to society are on for local people including highlighting the economic benefits for the people and the region arising out of mining in Meghalaya. As part of the confidence building measures, visit of local people & NGOs to the operating units of UCIL in Jaduguda were arranged to provide assurance on safety and best environment management practice adopted by UCIL.

This was stated by Shri Prithviraj Chavan, the Minister of State (I/C) Science &Technology and Earth Sciences in the Rajya Sabha today.

READ MORE - Uranium found in Meghalaya

Film producer Juneja calls on Lapang

SHILLONG, Dec 15 : Tito Juneja, who was accompanied by his daughter Henna Juneja, met Meghalaya Chief Minister DD Lapang at his residence today. Tito Juneja is the producer of Har Pal, the Hindi movie that was partly shot in Shillong.

During the meeting, Juneja told the Chief Minister that Meghalaya with all its scenic beauty and locations should definitely be projected as film shooting destination. He informed that his next film would also be shot in Shillong. He said that he would also convince other Bollywood film producers to visit Meghalaya and shoot their films here.

Meanwhile, his daughter Henna Juneja expressed her interest in setting up special schools for the disabled children of the State. She also made a presentation to the Chief Minister about her concept of projecting tourism potential of the State through advertising and marketing its Unique Selling Points (USPs) throughout the country.

After the presentation, Lapang said the Government of Meghalaya through its Tourism Department is also making efforts for projecting the tourism potential of the State. He said any investment by private players in the tourism sector will be welcomed.

READ MORE - Film producer Juneja calls on Lapang

Mineral Deposits in North Eastern States

The Minister of Mines and Minister of Development of North Eastern Region Shri B.K. Handique has said that as per available information, fairly good uranium deposit have been identified in the State of Meghalaya. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today he said, extraction is subject to statutory clearances. State-wise information on reserves/resources of minerals in the country is given in the Indian Mineral Year Book published by Indian Bureau of Mines, a copy of which has been supplied to the Parliament Library. Mining of minerals depends broadly on availability of mineral resources, economic viability, demand of the market etc. Under the liberalised economic environment, investment decisions, including choice of location, are taken by the entrepreneurs based on their techno-economic judgements and commercial considerations.

As per available information, while most of the tribals have welcomed the mining projects, few NGOs are opposing the uranium mining on the grounds of influx of outsiders into Meghalaya and perceived health hazards in the adjoining areas.

The Government has undertaken Awareness Programme to clear the misconceptions and addressing the economic and environmental concerns.

READ MORE - Mineral Deposits in North Eastern States

Lapang meets producer to promote Shillong

Shillong, Dec. 13: In a step forward to realise the dream of making Shillong a film shooting location, Meghalaya chief minister D.D. Lapang today met Tito Juneja, the producer of Har Pal, to explore further Bollywood entry to the city known as the “Scotland of the East”.

Har Pal, starring Preity Zinta and Shiney Ahuja and directed by acclaimed Assamese film director Jahnu Baruah was shot in the picturesque Smit, outskirts of Shillong, East Khasi Hills in 2007.

Zinta acts as a Khasi girl in the film, which has also the star presence of veteran actor Dharmendra.

In a statement issued here today, the state government said Tito Juneja accompanied by his daughter, Henna, met Lapang at his residence.

During the meeting, Juneja said Meghalaya with all its scenic locations should definitely be projected as a film destination.

He said his next film would also be shot in Shillong and added that he would also convince other Bollywood producers to visit Meghalaya and shoot their films here.

Har Pal is expected to be released early next year and there will be also a special screening of the movie in Shillong.

The Lapang government on November 24 had officially constituted a state task force for promoting the state as film destination in a follow up action after the recent visit of the chief minister to Mumbai.

Lapang during his tour to Mumbai met several film personalities to explore the possibility of inviting them to shoot films in Meghalaya. The decision to constitute the task force was taken considering the state’s potential as an ideal location for shooting.

Lapang is the chairman of the state task force and deputy chief minister Mukul Sangma is the co-chairman.

Besides senior government officials, filmmakers Subhash Ghai, N. Chandra and Shyam Benegal, actor Suneil Shetty, state entrepreneurs Larsing Ming Sawian, Sweety Pala and Arlene Sangma are also the members of the task force.

Filmmaker Yash Chopra will be the special invitee to the task force.

The first meeting scheduled for December 12 in Shillong was postponed because of the busy schedule of Suneil Shetty.

The duty of the task force is to prepare the policy for branding the state as a film destination, give inputs to the industries department to prepare a catalogue and brochures for promotion, besides deciding on the participation in film festivals both at the national and international level.

It will also discuss the possibility of setting up of a film city in Shillong like the Film City in Mumbai and Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad and will also ensure the building up of supporting infrastructure, including connectivity, more standard hotels as indirect promotion for the tourism industry.

During the meeting with Lapang, Juneja’s daughter Henna made a presentation about her concept of projecting the tourism potential of the state by way of advertising and marketing of its unique selling points (USPs) throughout the country.

She also expressed her interest in setting up special schools for disabled children in the state.

Lapang said the government through its tourism department was also making aggressive efforts to project the tourism potential of the state.

He said investments in the tourism sector are most welcome and any contribution by private players in this regard would help the state.

READ MORE - Lapang meets producer to promote Shillong

Holistic approach on Harm Reduction mooted

By Namaram Kishalaya (Dodo)

(Pic: Participants at the Meghalaya State Specific Harm Reduction Meet held at UNODC building at Shillong on 7 December 2009.)

SHILLONG, NE-India, 7 Dec 2009: The state specific meeting on harm reduction for the state of Meghalaya was organised by North East India Harm Reduction Network, NEIHRN today at the conference hall of the United Nations Office for Drug Control, UNODC office located at Sympli Building, Dhankheti, Shillong.

Altogether 21 participants from various government and non-governmental organisation working in the field of HIV/AIDS and drug use in Meghalaya participated the meeting.

The meeting resolved to initiate a holistic approach with regards to harm reduction activities in the state of Meghalaya and pointed out that the state being a hub for educational institution for the region, harm reduction intervention programmes for young people and students is a must.

The ever changing lifestyles and culture with regards to drug use has necessitated an immediate intevention to prevent them from harmful consequences, the meeting pointed out.

It also resolved to address the issues regarding the discontinuation of certain Targetted Intervention, TI services in the state and identified as a crisis situation. The lack of such intervention had caused a gap and hence created a risk among certain population including female sex workers, FSW.

No study or research on harm reduction has ever been conducted in the state and hence the meeting resolved to conduct a baseline survey and have a strategic planning with consultation with Meghalaya State AIDS Control Society, MSACS.

The meeting also resolved to have Faith Based Organisation, FBOs on board the network and involve in future implementation of programme, and in conducting need assessment and measure its effectiveness.

The Look East Policy in its present form has its premise on a subjugated appendix to economic development. The developmental projects, such as the coal mine industry exploits small children employing them in hazardous condition and abuse them hence violating their rights and increase in human trafficking.

READ MORE - Holistic approach on Harm Reduction mooted

Court seeks details of jailbreak

Police given 15 days
OUR CORRESPONDENT

Shillong, Dec. 11: The Shillong bench of Gauhati High Court has asked Meghalaya police to provide information on all aspects of the Shillong jailbreak, including details about the undertrial prisoners who were caught later, to the Civil Society Women’s Organisation, a women’s rights group, within 15 days.

The court order released today has put police in an uncomfortable position as the truth behind allegations of the death of jailbreak mastermind Full Moon Dhar in a fake encounter will come to light.

The gang leader who walked out of Shillong Jail with six others on May 31 this year was gunned down by the police in a Jaintia Hills forest, just 40km away, the next day.

The details will also shed light on the alleged involvement of Congress politician Thomas Nongtdu, then party’s nominated member to Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council who was arrested on the night of June 3 on charges of handing over Rs 3 lakh to Full Moon through the prisoner’s girlfriend, Evatiplang Kharkongor.

On July 2, the president of the women’s organisation, Agnes Kharshiing, filed an application under the Right to Information Act, asking the public information officer, police headquarters, Shillong, to provide detailed information on the jailbreak.

Kharshiing also sought the videography of Full Moon’s post-mortem and a copy of the autopsy report.

According to Kharshiing, the incident being related to life and liberty of the undertrial prisoners languishing in Shillong Jail, she had sought relevant information within 48 hours under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005.

The police in their reply had maintained that there was no question of jeopardising the life and liberty of the undertrial prisoners as they are lodged in jail under judicial custody.

Unhappy with the reply, Kharshiing had filed a complaint with the Meghalaya State Information Commission under Section 18 of the Act against the public information officer.

The commission on July 17 asked the public information officer of the police department as to why information could not be furnished.

In his reply, the public information commissioner said he had wanted at least 30 days to furnish information. However, the Commission in an order on August 6 asked the police to furnish information within seven days. Later, the public information officer filed a petition in the Shillong bench of Gauhati High Court to quash the order of the Commission.

READ MORE - Court seeks details of jailbreak

Chidambaram to visit Meghalaya

Shillong, Dec 11 : Union Home Minister P Chidambaram will visit Meghalaya on December 19 and address the Passing Out Parade of the 34th and 35th batches of the North Eastern Police Academy.

This is the first visit of Mr Chidambaram to the region after the arrest of leaders of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom, including its Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa.

Incidentally, this is also his first visit to Meghalaya ever since he became the Home Minister.

The ULFA leaders along with two associates were caught by the Border Security Force (BSF) at Dawki on the Indo-Bangla border.

Later, the Indian frontier guards handed them over to the Assam police who subsequently arrested them in connection with several pending cases.

''The Union Home Minister will preside over as the Chief Guest during the Passing Out Parade of 414 trainees who have completed their police training fom NEPA,'' a NEPA official said.

Meghalaya Chief Minister DD Lapang will attend as the Guest of Honour.

READ MORE - Chidambaram to visit Meghalaya

Meghalaya girls to represent India in karate championship

Meghalaya girls to represent India in karate championship – Yahoo! India News

Shillong, Sept 16 (ANI): Three girls from Meghalaya have been selected for the upcoming 9thAsian Karate Championship to be held in China from September 25 to 27.

Linza Fenny Syiem, Annie Dahun Warjiri and Basuk are elated to represent their state and country in China.

The girls said they have all the required skills and strength required in the sport and such international exposures will help them gain experience and boost their confidence.

“What we need is more exposure in the international arena so that we can also have more chance of winning in these international tournaments,” said Syiem.

The girls who have been practising for years say they are confident of bringing laurels and medals.

“It's a great honour to be selected to represent India for the first time. I hope that we will be able to do well,” said Warjiri.

However, the trio expressed their dissatisfaction with the available poor infrastructure and said more needed to be done in order to promote the sport in the state.

READ MORE - Meghalaya girls to represent India in karate championship

Meghalaya to raise squad to tackle terror

The Meghalaya government has decided to raise a commando squad on the lines of National Security Guards (NSG) to combat terrorism.
"We have decided to raise the special commando force immediately as we are running short of police force and Special Operation Team (SOT)," Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home, Hoping Stone Lyngdoh told reporters after a high-level meeting on Meghalaya's security.
The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Donkupar Roy and attended by senior government officials, including state Director General of Police BK Dey Sawian.
Lyngdoh said the commando squad will be trained by the NSG. "There would be intensive training pertaining to arms, anti-terrorist operational tactics and food habit," the Home Minister said, adding that the state government is also seeking modern sophisticated weapons for the commandos.
The state is running short of SOT as many from Meghalaya police's 3rd battalion have been deployed for VVIP duty in the national capital, much to the displeasure of the state government. The SOT was trained by the NSG.
On Sunday, one SOT personnel and the "commander-in-chief" of Liberation A'chik Elite Force (LAEF) were killed in an encounter with militants at Dimit village in Meghalaya's West Khasi Hills district bordering Bangladesh.
The SOT constable RD Sangma received fatal bullet injuries. The LAEF "commander-in-chief" has been identified as Kimbre Sangma.
The police seized an AK 47 rifle, ammunition and incriminating documents from the slain militant's possession.
Meanwhile, two others, Semberson G Momin and Abing G Momin were also arrested today by the police for harbouring the militants.
"The combing operations against LAEF will continue," a police official said.

READ MORE - Meghalaya to raise squad to tackle terror

Over 1000 hectares reserved forest encroached in Meghalaya

Shillong: Over 1000 hectares of reserved forests in the East Garo Hills district of Meghalaya have been encroached, the state's minister-in-charge of forest and environment
, R C Laloo, on Tuesday told the Assembly.

“A total of 1,309 hectares have been encroached,” the minister said in reply to a query by Opposition legislator T D Shira.

The minister said encroachment of reserved forest land appeared to be a “continuous process” occurring since pre-Independence days, though it had come down substantially in areas except forests adjacent to Assam and urban areas.

Most of the cases relating to these are pending in the district courts, he said.

READ MORE - Over 1000 hectares reserved forest encroached in Meghalaya

Meghalaya govt denies protocol breach

Shillong, Dec 9 (PTI) The Meghalaya Government today denied breach of protocol during the recent visit of a senior Bangladesh minister to the state.

Opposition insists there was a "serious lapse" and breach of protocol during the visit of Bangladesh's deputy minister in-charge of cultural affairs Promod Mankin, who was the guest of honour in the closing ceremony of Hundred Drums Wangala Festival last month.

The opposition also demands an apology from the government.

Replying to this in the Assembly, state minister in-charge of general administration department (GAD) Prestone Tynsong said, "Due courtesies and protocol was provided" to the guest.

Mankin, the lone Garo Member of Parliament in Bangladesh, had led a troupe of around 30 Garo drummers and dancers from his country to join their ethnic siblings in Meghalaya to celebrate the annual jamboree from November 11 to 16.

READ MORE - Meghalaya govt denies protocol breach

No hurry in uranium mining: Lapang

Shillong: The Meghalaya Government is not in a hurry to start the proposed uranium mining project in the state and the government was open to any suggestion on the issue, Chief Minister D D Lapang told the Assembly today.

Indicating that the Centre was putting pressure on the state to initiate the project, Lapang said, the state MLAs did not object the pre-developmental works proposed to be carried out by the UCIL in the uranium rich areas.

"The legislators have, however, told the government to be cautious about the health and environment aspect," he said while replying to the private members motion tabled by Independent Manas Chaudhuri.

"We would like to accommodate suggestions from public representatives and public," he said adding "The Centre wants the state government to start the project. It is very difficult for the state government to say no to the request of the Centre, as the state is dependant on it for all-round development," he said.

Giving in to pressure from various agitating organizations led by the Khasi Students Union, Meghalaya government had last month put on hold the UCIL’s pre-mining developmental works in the uranium-rich areas of the state, two months after it had given the go-ahead to the corporation.

The government has formed a committee to look into the apprehensions expressed by the organizations.

READ MORE - No hurry in uranium mining: Lapang

Meghalaya to release 40 pc of arrears of new pay scale

Shillong, Dec 8 (PTI) The Meghalaya government employees will get 40 per cent of the arrears of the revised pay scale in this financial year, state?s Finance Minister Mukul Sangma told the assembly today.

"The state government has implemented the revised pay scales with effect from January 1, 2007, and the new pay scales have been authorised to be drawn by the employees from September this year, he said replying to a question.

The government, Sangma said, proposes to release 40 per cent of the arrear during 2009-10 subject to availability of funds.

"The balance 60 per cent will be considered as and when funds are available," he said.

The financial implication of the pay revision of the employees involves an additional liability of Rs 332 crore annually, taking the total annual salary burden to Rs 1683.16 crore.

READ MORE - Meghalaya to release 40 pc of arrears of new pay scale

31 departments fail to furnish information

SHILLONG, Dec 4: Thirty-one State Government departments have failed to furnish requisite information for the annual report of the Meghalaya State Information Commission for the year 2008.

The annual report was today tabled by Chief Minister DD Lapang at a five-minute session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly that began today. The report which encompasses the data on the implementation of the RTI in the State pointed out that the commission “may not correctly reflect the full picture of the RTI activities that had taken place in the year as a large number of Public Authorities had failed to furnish the relevant information for the annual report.”

The public authorities (with departments) who failed to furnish requisite information includes the Arts and Culture, AH &Veterinary, Border Areas Development, C&RD, Meghalaya State Warehousing Cooperation, Meghalaya Apex Handloom Weavers & Handicrafts Cooperative Federation Ltd, Communication, District Council Affairs, Excise: Registration: Taxation & Stamps Department, Education, Finance, Food and Civil Supplies, Fisheries, GAD, Home (Police), Home Guards and Civil Defence, Home (Jails), Housing, Industries, Information Technology, Geology and Mining, Personnel, PHE, Power, Printing and Stationery, PWD, Revenue and Disaster Management, Sports and Youth Affairs, Sericulture and Weaving, Transport, Urban Affairs and Weight and Measures.

The annual report also mentioned that a total number of 344 requests were received by the Public Information Officers of the public authorities who have furnished reports. With 16 requests pending from 2007 there are a total number of 360 requests to be disposed off by the PIO during 2008, the report said, adding that 335 requests were disposed off by the PIOs during the year which accounts for 93.0 per cent of all total number of requests available for disposal. While the remaining requests of 25 (or 7 per cent) were at various stages of processing at the end of 2008, the report said that only two requests were rejected.

“This shows that the public authorities have been providing the information in most cases,” the annual report said. However, in its recommendations the annual report observed, “The information flow from the level of the PIOs to the public authorities/Government departments has not been smooth; as a result, many departments have failed to furnish the requisite information in time for preparation of the annual report in spite of reminders by the commission.”

The annual report also included the commission’s observations and recommendations for reforms in the annual report, for the development, improvement, modernization, reforms or amendment of the Act or other legislation or common law or any other matter relevant for operationalizing the right to access information. Pointing out to 19 recommendations made in the previous two annual reports and the status of implementation the annual report also recommended that public authorities/Government departments should insist on submission of a quarterly report from all PIOs.

READ MORE - 31 departments fail to furnish information