SHILLONG: Meghalaya has intensified its governance drive across critical sectors, with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma leading a comprehensive review of six key departments, signalling a coordinated push to accelerate urban transformation, strengthen preparedness for the National Games 2027, and enhance efficiency in resource utilisation and public service delivery. The high-level exercise brought together Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Urban Affairs and Transport Snaiwbhalang Dhar, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Wailadmiki Shylla and Art and Culture Minister Sanbor Shullai, alongside senior officials, as the State aligns its developmental priorities with upcoming milestones and long-term sustainability goals.
Briefing media persons after the meeting, the Chief Minister said, “One we had regarding the beautification and the overall cleanliness and other Urban projects in Shillong, Jowai and Tura and it was in line with the work that we have only started, but how to make it even better. So, how we would involve the community, support the community and work with the community to ensure that Shillong cleanliness improved, waste management is improved our overall water waste which is not being managed in the way should be, can be improved. So multiple aspects on the on this was discussed.” He further underlined the scale of preparations underway for the upcoming sporting event, stating, “Number two, we discussed about the national games and the preparation for the National Games. So there was a separate second review with took place about the National Games. We went into all the details about infrastructure or accommodation transport. The number of athletes and sports persons will be different sports in which locations it will be held so on and so forth. All the details of the National Games for discussed.”
Pointing to emerging economic avenues, he said, “Third meeting we have was regarding a proposal to set up the excellence for Agar in Meghalaya because we feel is a huge opportunity for it. So we had a detail about the presentation and how we will build up the entire center of Excellence.” On environmental governance and institutional strengthening, he added, “The fourth review we had was the forest department where all the different aspects of forest and the different Wings that are there of the forest department, different aspects of revenue generation, how to increase the revenue generation and overall improvement of the the forest department were discussed in that meeting.” Clarifying the nature of urban interventions, he noted, “And we also had No, there was no specific Urban infrastructure development as such it was overall we look at the cleanliness, beautification and just enhancing the overall work that we’re doing already in Shillong and how to improve it and make it better.” Addressing transport sector efficiency, he said, “There was six review meetings we had a review meeting with Meghalaya Transport Corporation. we are the fifth meeting which was with the Meghalaya Transport Corporation and where we discussed about the different assets that the Transport Corporation has and how we could improve and ensure that we can use it in the much more effective manner.”
Deliberations with the Urban Department centred on supplementing ongoing beautification efforts in Shillong, Tura and Jowai through community participation, including cleanliness drives, painting of public and private properties, and intensified waste management measures such as cleaning of rivers and streams. A separate review with the Sports Department assessed progress towards hosting the National Games 2027, with focus on sports infrastructure, athlete accommodation, transport logistics and overall preparedness of Team Meghalaya to deliver a landmark event.
The review of the Forest Department outlined a forward-looking roadmap prioritising conservation, livelihood enhancement and governance reforms. Discussions covered expansion of forest and tree cover, restoration of degraded landscapes, promotion of community-driven afforestation, wildlife mapping, eco-tourism development and forest-based livelihoods, alongside strengthening digital monitoring systems to improve transparency. The need to bridge infrastructure gaps through better frontline support, improved wildlife rescue systems and creation of essential facilities was also emphasised.
Further, the Transport and Urban Affairs review examined progress on key infrastructure initiatives aimed at boosting connectivity and urban development, including the proposed Shillong Business-cum-Tourism and Cultural Centre, redevelopment of Meghalaya Transport Corporation land in Tura, development of Transport Department land and a bus depot at Nongpoh, and plans for operationalising urban facilities across the State.
Meghalaya sharpens multi-sector push with focus on urban renewal, National Games 2027 readiness and resource optimisation
