Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 96/22

DDG, NIC, NEW DELHI REVIEWS PROGRESS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF E-GOVERNANCE PROJECTS IN WEST GARO HILLS

The Deputy Director General, NIC, New Delhi and NIC State Coordinator of Meghalaya, Rajender Sethi, reviewed the progress and implementation of various e-Governance projects in West Garo Hills in the presence of West Garo Hills DC, Ram Singh, Deputy Director General, NIC, Meghalaya, Timothy Dkhar and the officials of various line departments on 8 April at DRDA Conference Hall in Tura.

Reviewing the implementation of e-governance projects in the district, Rajender Sethi, stressed on the need to address issues and problems relating to e-governance and urged the Govt. officials to raise their respective issues pertaining to implementation of e-governance projects and e-district services.

While interacting with the Govt. officials, DDG NIC, Meghalaya, Timothy Dkhar, informed that the NIC will be launching ‘single sign-on’ (SSO) system for e-services in the state which provides secure auto-login to all apps. He also informed that the NIC in the state will soon start the ‘Sandes App’ an instant messaging platform developed by NIC to minimize the costs of e-governance.

Urging the officials to be in tune with e-services, Timothy Dkhar, also informed that e-billing to the Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) will soon start in the state and the NIC will implement various applications this year. West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh, while delivering the welcome address, highlighted the problems and issues pertaining to implementation of e-governance projects and e-district services and requested the NIC to be more user-friendly.

During the review meeting, DIO, NIC, Tura, Sengre M Sangma, through a power point presentation, highlighted the implementation of various e-governance projects and e-services being provided by the NIC to various Govt. departments and others. In her presentation, she also apprised the visiting officials of the NIC of the lack of man-power, lack of equipment and connectivity issues of NIC, Tura.

During the meeting, the officials of the line departments also interacted with the NIC officials and apprised them of their respective issues and problems.

Press Release No. 97/22

AWARENESS PROGRAMME FOR NOKMAS HELD AT TURA

A One Day Awareness programme for the Nokmas of A’king Land of West and South-West Garo Hills District where quarries and crushers were present was held today at Green Haven, Walbakgre, Tura. The programme was organized by the Range Forest Officer, Tura Territorial Range.

As informed by the Range Forest Officer, Tura Territorial Range Quartus Chongkim B Sangma said that sensitization of the Nokmas of the region was necessary with regard to the Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957 and in view of the various notifications issued by the Government recently about the Amendment of Meghalaya Minor Minerals Concession Rules, 2016 and briefed the participants about the guidelines and its provisions.

Mentioning the amendment in rule 4, he said that “No mining lease and quarry permit shall be granted in respect of any of the lands mentioned such as within a distance of two hundred (200) metres from the edge of the National Highways and any roads to be notified by the Government, within a distance of one hundred (100) metres from any Village, Water source, Bridges, Dams, Reservoirs and from the edge of the State Highways and any other roads when blasting is not involved and within a distance of two hundred (200) metres from any Village, Water Source, Bridges, Dams, Reservoirs and from the edge of the State Highways and other roads when blasting is involved”.

Therefore, he urged all the Nokmas to follow these rules while operating quarries in their A’king land and also reminded them to use their land judiciously while operating quarries or crushers in their A’king Land which is possible only by obtaining proper license and can operate it in a legal manner.

Meanwhile, the Circle Inspector, Tura Police Station Bitching Marak also informed the Nokmas with regard to the law and order matters which need to be followed while operating their quarries and crushers in their respective areas. Stating that in earlier times some Nokmas have given lease for meagre amount of money, he advised them to carry out the business themselves legally and scientifically so that they can earn better profit as well as protect the environment and thereby save the eco-system for the future generations. Further, he also seeks the support and cooperation of the people so that they can work together for the progress and prosperity of the people of the area.