Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 467/12

CM FLAGGED OFF SHILLONG HALF MARATHON

Shillong, 27th October, 2012: The Chief Minister of Meghalaya Dr. Mukul Sangma today flagged off the Shillong Half Marathon in the presence of Minister of Urban Affairs Ms. Ampareen Lyngdoh, Minister of IT, AL Hek, Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills Sanjay Goyal, Chairman of the Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum (MTDF) R G Lyngdoh besides other dignitaries.

The event, organised by the MTDF and sponsored by the State Government of Meghalaya under the theme ‘For a Greener Tomorrow’ was flagged off by the Chief Minister from Madan Iewrenghep at Fire Brigade and culminated at Polo Grounds and covered a distance of 5 miles.

The Shillong Half Marathon is part of the annual Shillong Autumn Festival and saw the participation of thousands of Shillongites and also people from outside the state in four categories namely the Half Marathon and Cycling Race and the Green Walkathon and Junior Run for the children and others.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Sangma said that the participants in this event are taking part in an agenda to make Shillong and Meghalaya green. “Our way of life has an impact on the environment and therefore we not only need to think green, we need to live green and that is how we can move forward and start this movement.” He further stated that this is a movement which needs the active participation of all the stakeholders and this requires come coordination and commitment from all of us, adding that we have to convert this humble beginning into a committed movement so that the agenda we are sharing together today can fructify and we leave behind a better future for our younger generation,” Dr. Sangma added.

Press Release No. 468/12

MEGH CM MEETS ADVISER TO THE PM OF BANGLADESH

Shillong, 27th October, 2012: Chief Minister of Meghalaya Dr. Mukul Sangma today met a delegation from Bangladesh which was headed by the Adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Dr. Gowher Rizvi and the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, Mr. Tariq A Karim.

Speaking after the meeting, Dr. Sangma said that the meeting is in continuation to various engagements that the Government of Meghalaya and the Government of India has been jointly taken up with Bangladesh.

Speaking about these engagements, Dr. Rizvi said that a discussion was held on various areas of cooperation between Bangladesh and Meghalaya. At least five or six areas were identified today, Dr. Rizvi informed.

Elaborating further on these areas of cooperation, the High Commissioner said that a discussion was held on the possibility of cooperation between Meghalaya and Bangladesh in the power sector. “We have discussed linking the grids between Meghalaya and Bangladesh near Cherrapunjee in a stretch that is only 10 kms in length,” the High Commissioner said.

“We have also talked about increasing the number of border haats and food, spices processing and we are trying to get our entrepreneurs together in a meet either here in Meghalaya or in Bangladesh. We have also talked about potentials that exist in increasing and harnessing bamboo cultivation to make a project which will be eco – friendly as well as meet a lot of our other needs such as low cost housing,” the High Commissioner said.

“We are bound together and are the children of the Brahmaputra and we are thinking of how we can cooperate in harnessing the power of this mighty river as well as harnessing the munificence of this river. A river cannot be harnessed in segments, it has to be done together and unless Bangladesh participates with Meghalaya and Assam and in this regard, Bangladesh is convening a meeting with India and Bhutan on the Brahmaputra Basin Management,” the High Commissioner said while adding that this is a big project which will transform the entire region.

Talks were also held on the possibility of Shillong being a tourist and educational destination for the people of Bangladesh.