Shillong, Nov. 26: The Meghalaya Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, on Wednesday approved a series of key decisions aimed at accelerating development, improving connectivity and expanding tourism infrastructure in the state.
The Cabinet welcomed the sanction of ₹500 crore from the Government of India for extending benefits to villages and households that were left out of government schemes due to reliance on outdated data from the 2011 Census. The funding is expected to enhance inclusion and ensure equitable access to welfare programmes.
In a significant infrastructural move, the Cabinet approved land acquisition and land exchange with defence authorities at Umroi to facilitate the expansion of the Shillong Airport, enabling operations of larger aircraft and strengthening regional air connectivity. The Deputy Chief Minister (Transport) has been tasked with coordinating with local communities for smooth execution of the project.
The meeting also approved the standardisation of utility shifting charges, with agencies now required to follow a fixed 2.5% rate for relocating utilities such as electricity lines, water pipelines and cables during development works, ensuring fairness and uniformity across departments.
To boost tourism, the government approved land purchases in Mawkynrew, Laitlum Canyon, the Smit–Nongkrem belt, and Umden Silk Village for hotel and resort projects under the public–private partnership (PPP) model, which are expected to enhance tourism infrastructure and drive economic opportunities.
Additionally, the Cabinet cleared ₹50 crore for the construction of the Nongpoh–Umden Road, aimed at improving access to Umden, a major Eri silk hub, thereby supporting both tourism and local livelihood development.
Meghalaya Cabinet Approves Internal Revenue Generation Scheme for Engineering Colleges and Polytechnics
The Meghalaya Cabinet has approved the Internal Revenue Generation (IRG) Scheme aimed at enabling engineering colleges and polytechnics in the state to undertake technical consultancy, design vetting and related engineering studies to boost institutional capability and revenue generation.
At present, the state government frequently outsources specialised design and technical vetting work to national institutes such as the IITs, despite having skilled faculty and students in local institutions like Shillong Engineering College and various polytechnic institutes. Officials noted that existing restrictions prevented state institutions from taking up such assignments, resulting in both financial outflow and underutilisation of local expertise.
Under the newly approved IRG scheme, engineering institutions in Meghalaya will now be permitted to participate in government projects, collaborate with departments, and generate internal revenue by engaging their faculty and students in real-world technical assignments. While IITs and other national institutes may continue to be involved wherever necessary, state institutions will now be allowed to undertake work previously beyond their mandate.
The Cabinet emphasised that the initiative will strengthen academic and practical exposure for students, enhance institutional capacity and reduce dependence on external agencies, while retaining technical project funds within the state.
