Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 307/15

SHANMUGANTHAN SWORN IN AS THE NEW GOVERNOR OF MEGHALAYA

Shillong, May 20, 2015: Shri. V Shanmuganthan was today sworn in as the 15th Governor of Meghalaya by the Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court, Mr. Justice Uma Nath Singh at a grand function held at the Durbar Hall of the Raj Bhavan in Shillong. The swearing in ceremony was also graced by the presence of the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Dr. Mukul Sangma and his cabinet colleagues, MLAs, Meghalaya Chief Secretary, senior bureaucrats and officials of the State Government.

Born on November 21, 1949, Shri. V Shanmuganthan was an active member of the BJP and has also held the post of Additional Secretary, BJP Parliamentary Party. In his stint with the party, he had been in charge of the Defence, Research & Documentation and Overseas Friends of BJP Cells.

A post-graduate gold medalist in Political Science, Shri. Shanmuganthan is a prolific writer and has written three books relating to culture and social aspects in Tamil.

Press Release No. 310/15

UNION MINISTER CALLS ON CHIEF MINISTER

Shillong, May 20, 2015: As part of his visit to the Northeast, the Union Minister for Steel and Mines, Government of India, Shri. Narendra Singh Tomar called upon the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Dr. Mukul Sangma at his residence on May 20, 2015.

Speaking to the media following the meeting, Shri. Tomar said that although the Centre is aware about the effect of the ban on coal mining imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Meghalaya, the ruling of the Tribunal has to be accepted as the degradation of the environment is an area of critical concern and the need to protect the environment is a priority issue for the Government. However, he added that the State Government can put forward it grievances before the Tribunal.

Stating that the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi is committed to bring the northeastern region at par with the rest of the country in all realms of development, Shri. Tomar said the Central government and the State government will work together to bring about progress and prosperity in the State through interventions in areas such as mineral exploration.

The Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Dr. Mukul Sangma stressed on the need for proper mechanisms to meet the various statutory laws to revive the mining activities as far as coal mining is concerned and added that there will be a joint exercise and some committees can be set up to look into the matter and format a mechanism to overcome the challenges. He further said that the Government is expecting full support from the Union Government in this regard and that the Ministry of Coal will also be involved in this exercise as it will have more synergy.

The Chief Minister also said that various sections and clauses from the MMDR Act, 1957 and MMDR Amendment Act, 2015 were discussed in the meeting and how those sections come in the way of traditional and customary practices. While stating there is a need to work out the modalities to overcome such issues, the Chief Minister also said that there is a need for proper mapping for exploration of minerals so that we know what is available and what is good for the State, the Nation and the people.