SHILLONG: The State Government is preparing its written submission on the jinxed Umiam-Jorabat four-lane road project to be submitted before the Gauhati High Court, following a direction from the court.

The Gauhati High Court asked the State Government to file the written submission on the basis of a PIL filed by the landowners and an NGO in opposition to the recent decision of the State Government to construct the proposed four-lane road through the Umsning Bypass.

Shillong: With an aim to enhance fish seed production and impart knowledge to the farmers of the state on modern technology of aquaculture especially breeding technique, the Fisheries department has come up with a full- fledged research centre at Ri Bhoi which will be inaugurated on Thursday.

The first of its kind in the State, the Mawpun farm-cum-research centre at Ri Bhoi is expected to enhance the fish seed production with a target of about 25 lakh fries. It will be a demonstration centre to all fish farmers for breeding, feeding and the like.

SHILLONG: The Khasi-Jaintia Ri-Bhoi Border Fish Protection Committee (KJRBFPC) including the KSU Mawryngkneng Circle has decided to recognize Umkhen River as a Fish Conservation Area.

The decision came after a meeting held by the KSU Mawryngkneng Circle and the KJRBFPC including the Rangbah Shnong of villages located near the river at Thadrang, Ri-Bhoi District recently.

SHILLONG: A serious concern is being raised over the possible extinction of the animals inhabiting the Nongkhyllem Forest Sanctuary in Ri-Bhoi district on account of the rapid illegal felling of trees for timber smuggling which is currently happening in the sanctuary.

It is learnt that at present, the forest sanctuary covers an area of 100 square kilometres including an additional area of 6.2 kilometres, acquired by the Government in 2002. Nongkhyllem sanctuary is the habitat for elephants, deer, wild pigs, amongst other animals although elephants number highest in population inside the sanctuary.

SHILLONG: Owners of land along the existing stretch of NH-40 at Umsning have decided to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before the Gauhati High Court in opposition to the recent decision of the State Government to construct the proposed four-lane road through the Umsning Bypass.

The land owners took the decision during a public meeting organised by the Ri-Bhoi Students’ Union (RBSU) at the community hall at Lum Roman, Umsning on Thursday.

SHILLONG: The recent incident where a wildlife staff was trampled to death by a wild elephant has once again opened up the debate over man-animal conflicts.

This was not the first time that a man was killed by a wild elephant as in the past too some people have either been killed or injured by wild elephants in the State.

SHILLONG: Admitting that the establishment of State Zoo proposed in Umtrew, Ri Bhoi district has encountered road blocks, the State Government has assured that the project would be hopefully completed by 2013.

Claiming that the work is on track, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) VK Nautiyal said, “So far the state forest department has already received an amount of Rs 12 crore from the 12th finance commission. However, we are expecting to get the remaining amount from the 13th finance commission.”

SHILLONG: The Planning Commission has approved the inter-state bus terminus (ISBT) and inter-state truck terminus (ISTT) projects of the State Government.

Disclosing this here on Tuesday, Transport Minister AT Mondal said the budget of the two projects has been fixed at Rs 48.31 crore and Rs 26 crore respectively.

NONGPOH: The ongoing construction of the four lane Jorabat-Umiam road in Ri-Bhoi district undertaken by the Ramky Infrastructure Pvt Ltd is posing a serious threat to the local residents of 20 Mile. The company is dumping waste soil in public areas as a result of which a small drain has turned to a dirty pond.

SHILLONG: The State Government may have decided to construct the four-lane road along the existing stretch of the highway at Umsning, but a cross-section of opinion makers feel that the four-lane road should be constructed along the Umsning Bypass.

The Shillong Times spoke to a cross-section of people to seek their opinion on the controversy surrounding the project which arose when the State Government decided to construct the road from the existing Umsning highway even as the DPR prepared earlier provisioned for construction along the Umsning Bypass.