SHILLONG : The Meghalaya government has agreed to put further work at the proposed Shree Cement project site on hold until an independent committee examines concerns surrounding the public hearing and environmental issues.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced the decision after holding talks with Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) leaders on Wednesday on the five key issues raised by the organisation.
An independent fact-finding committee headed by a senior government official will examine the public hearing process, participation of stakeholders and environmental concerns linked to the Shree Cement project.
All further work at the site will remain suspended until the committee submits its findings, Conrad said.
The meeting also discussed the implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), with the government agreeing to speed up registration of people coming from outside the state.
A technology-based application is being developed to simplify the registration process and create a centralised database, according to the Chief Minister.
The government and KSU also agreed to conduct a joint inspection of the Umling Facilitation Centre, with the aim of making it operational before Christmas. Efforts will continue to identify land for similar centres at other locations.
On migrant workers, Conrad said the amended Meghalaya Identification, Registration, Safety & Security of Migrant Workers Act has been further clarified across 34 areas, including the powers of officials conducting verification and the use of the CCTNS network for police checks.
The revised system is expected to be rolled out shortly after the concerned officials receive orientation.
NEIGRIHMS recruitment concerns
Recruitment at NEIGRIHMS was another issue discussed during the meeting. Conrad said the state government would facilitate a meeting between KSU representatives and the Union Health Minister so that their concerns could be raised directly.
The state will also provide logistical support where required for recruitment examinations, he said.
On transparency in state recruitment, Conrad said interviews for Grade D posts have already been removed.
Interviews for Grade C non-technical posts will also be abolished for notifications issued from January 1, 2027, he said. The government has implemented 19 of the 23 reforms recommended for the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC), while four remain under consideration.
Conrad also said the government would examine the legal framework to determine how recruitment opportunities could be appropriately aligned with the interests of Meghalaya residents.
The KSU has indicated that it wants to continue discussions on other issues from its larger charter of demands.
Conrad said the government remained open to further dialogue and that concerns raised by different stakeholders would continue to be considered.
The meeting marks a significant shift from the confrontation that followed the August 19 violence, with both sides now moving towards discussions on the KSU’s demands while the government has agreed to an immediate pause on work at the Shree Cement site.
