Latest news with #ConradSangma
Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
This Indian city was ranked the world's most polluted in 2024. It's not Delhi
Byrnihat in Meghalaya has been named the most polluted city in the world according to Swiss Group IQAir's annual pollution report for 2024, surprising many who usually expect Delhi to hold that spot. However, India's capital still ranks second on the list. The Central Pollution Control Board has also declared Byrnihat the most polluted urban area in India for the second consecutive year, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 302, placing it in the 'very poor' category. Amid rising pollution, the Meghalaya Cabinet, chaired by chief minister Conrad Sangma, approved a vehicle scrappage policy on May 1 aimed at reducing emissions across the state. Government spokesperson Paul Lyngdoh explained that the policy targets old, unfit vehicles, with about 13,000 cars expected to be removed from the roads—5,000 government-owned and 8,000 privately owned. Lyngdoh said that this policy will help lower pollution by cutting emissions, reduce fuel imports, and decrease the need for raw material extraction and recycling. While Delhi is often assumed to be the most polluted city, it ranks second, followed by Karaganda in Kazakhstan in third place. Mullanpur in Punjab, India, is fourth, with Lahore in Pakistan in fifth. Dera Ismail Khan in Pakistan is sixth, N'Djamena in Chad is seventh, and Loni in Uttar Pradesh, India, is eighth. New Delhi comes in ninth, and Faridabad in Haryana completes the top 10 list. Continuing the list of the world's most polluted cities in 2024, Multan in Pakistan ranks 11th, followed by Peshawar at 12th and Faisalabad at 13th. Sialkot, also in Pakistan, holds the 14th position. Indian cities Gurugram in Haryana and Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan are placed 15th and 16th, respectively. Hotan in China comes in at 17th, while Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh) and Bhiwadi (Rajasthan) rank 18th and 19th. Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh secures the 20th spot. Further down the list, Hanumangarh in Rajasthan ranks 21st, followed by Noida in Uttar Pradesh at 22nd. Pindi Bhattian in Pakistan is 23rd, with Ballabgarh (Haryana) and Mandi Gobindgarh (Punjab) at 24th and 25th places, respectively. Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital, takes the 26th position, while Bahadurgarh in Haryana ranks 27th. Sreepur in Bangladesh is 28th, followed by Charsadda in Pakistan at 29th. Faridabad in Haryana rounds out the top 30 at 30th place.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Assam, Meghalaya CMs join hands to tackle Guwahati urban flooding
Guwahati: Chief Ministers Assam and Meghalaya agreed to find a solution to the urban flooding issue in Guwahati which benefits both States. The states have agreed to entrust North-Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) to do a proper satellite mapping of the area post which they will request IIT Roorkee to suggest a tangible solution to the issue. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated in X, 'Held threadbare discussions on several important issues with Chief Minister of Meghalaya Conrad Sangma at the Chief Ministers' Level Meeting in Guwahati. Key takeaways Assam and Meghalaya realise that development in both States is mutually inclusive and we need to work together to move ahead in the path of development Assam and Meghalaya will develop the Kulsi Irrigation project to benefit our farmers, which will be funded by Government of Assam. Both States will jointly build the 55 MW Kulsi Power Project after discussions with the local communities.' He added, ' Of the 6 resolved boundary disputes, some minor hiccups are there which will soon be resolved after discussions between concerned parties and boundary pillars will be marked. The remaining 6 disputed sites will be resolved at a mutually agreeable time .Both States agreed to find a solution to the urban flooding issue in Guwahati which benefits both States. We have agreed to entrust NESAC to do a proper satellite mapping of the area post which we will request IIT Roorkee to suggest a tangible solution to the issue.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Sarma visited Lakhimpur district on Monday to take stock of the flood situation. He inspected the flood-affected areas of Amtala and Barbila, as well as the submerged areas by the Pahumara River, and interacted with affected residents to understand their situation. He also reviewed the measures implemented by the district administration. It may be noted that a significant portion of the area was inundated due to a breach at the Amtala embankment. Live Events Sarma arrived at Lilabari Airport in Lakhimpur and held a meeting with NEEPCO officials of the Ranganadi Power Plant to discuss water release procedures, technical protocols, coordination with district administration, and prior public notifications. He reviewed NEEPCO's water release procedures and instructed that water be released gradually in phases rather than all at once. He emphasized addressing technical aspects and directed officials to maintain coordination with the district administration for timely public alerts. He also mandated immediate precautionary actions based on rainfall forecasts. This year's floods have submerged 129 villages across five revenue circles in Lakhimpur district, affecting 46,687 people. Additionally, 454.82 hectares of agricultural land and 22,871 livestock have been impacted. The administration has opened three relief camps sheltering 425 people and established 49 relief distribution centers. For rescue operations, one NDRF team and four SDRF teams have been deployed.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Border pillars to be erected in 5 'disputed areas' along Assam-Meghalaya boundary by August 15: CMs
Guwahati: In a definitive step towards resolution of longstanding boundary differences between Assam and Meghalaya, the two states governments on Monday decided to erect border pillars in five of the disputed areas by Independence Day, chief ministers of the two states said. These are among the six disputed areas, out of the total 12, for resolving which both the two states had signed an agreement in March 2022, they said. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad Sangma were addressing a joint press conference here after a meeting on various inter-state issues. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esse novo alarme com câmera é quase gratuito em Jundiaí (consulte o preço) Alarmes Saiba Mais Undo "Out of six areas for which agreement was signed, we will try to erect the border pillars in five of these areas by August 15," Sarma said. "There is some difference in one of these five areas. Meghalaya wants a village that had been allotted to us, but they have given the assurance that same amount of land will be transferred to us. We have asked for one week's time to consider and inform them," he added. Live Events
NDTV
6 days ago
- NDTV
"Looks Like They Went On A Hike": Meghalaya Chief Minister On Missing Couple
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Thursday said he is "personally monitoring" the administration and police's efforts to trace a newly married couple from Madhya Pradesh, who went missing in Cherrapunji a week ago. Raja, a transport businessman and his wife, Sonam, had arrived from Indore to the northeastern state for their honeymoon on May 20. The two were last spotted in Sohra, also known as Cherrapunji, before they went missing on May 23. Sohra is a popular tourist destination in the East Khasi Hills district of the state. The couple's family has offered a reward of Rs 5 lakh to anyone who can provide information on their whereabouts. In a video statement, Mr Sangma said it was not just the police and the administration, but the entire local community that were involved in the search efforts. He also said that he has received calls from the Home Ministry and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav in this regard. "Few days ago, an unfortunate incident happened where a newly-wed couple from Madhya Pradesh had come to Meghalaya, Sohra. We got reports that they went missing. It is a very very unfortunate situation. My counterpart from Madhya Pradesh, the chief minister, has spoken to me. I have received a call from the Home Ministry," he said. "I have been monitoring this situation personally on a daily basis. The SP as well as the entire administration, and the police force have been on the job 24*7 to find the couple. Not only the administration but the entire village and the community in that area is also participating in this search," he added. The Meghalaya Chief Minister, however, flagged certain challenges linked to the search operation ahead of the Monsoon season. "We are using all the possible technology available with us to help us in our endeavour. As you are aware, this is the pre-monsoon era and Cherrapunji and the entire belt is known for heavy rainfall. Hence, it is a very, very difficult task as we move along but we are giving it our best to ensure that we are able to find the couple," he said. He said the couple had rented a bike that was found abandoned on the main road, on the day they went missing. "It looks like after leaving the bike there, they have gone off road to hike. The area that they went to, both sides have hiking treks, they are very steep. Keeping in mind the monsoon season, the area is very slippery. The search area is very, very big. We are working very hard to trace them. We are hopeful that we will be able to find them," he said. He reiterated that tourists, especially in Sohra area, are like a family for the people of the state. "Every single village has offered their help. They are tirelessly working along with the administration. We are hopeful that we will get positive results," he said. Sources said the matter is being probed by the top brass in the state government. Mr Sangma is also in constant touch with the search agencies and concerned authorities, they said. On Wednesday, Indore MP Shankar Lalwani arrived in Shillong to meet senior police officers, including Director General of Police (DGP) Idashisha Nongrang. In a post on X, he said that ensuring the safety of Indore's citizens is his top priority. He assured that every possible effort is being made to locate the missing couple. Mr Lalwani said that in his meeting with the DGP, it emerged that tribal residents in the area where the couple went missing are being questioned. He said the rented bike and the couple's belongings were found in different spots. On Tuesday night, the couple's two bags were found in a ditch near the dense bushes. A day later, the search was briefly halted amid heavy rainfall in the area.
United News of India
6 days ago
- United News of India
Efforts on to rescue missing couple from MP: Meghalaya CM
Shillong, May 29 (UNI) Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Thursday said efforts are on to rescue the missing newly-wed couple from Madhya Pradesh who disappeared during their honeymoon in Sohra, also known as Cherrapunjee, a popular tourist destination in Meghalaya. The Meghalaya police along with State Disaster Response Force and villagers have intensified their search and rescue operation for 27-year-old Raja Raghuvanshi and his wife Sonam from Indore who have been missing since May 24. 'We are hopeful that we will get positive results and we will be able to find the couple. I am personally monitoring the situation and we are trying our best to find the couple,' Sangma said in a video statement. Terming the disappearance of the couple as a 'very unfortunate situation', the Chief Minister said that he had spoken to his Madhya Pradesh counterpart Mohan Yadav and he had also received a call from Union Home Minister's office. 'I am personally monitoring the situation on a daily basis. The entire district administration (East Khasi Hills), the state police and the entire village community are on job to find out the couple,' he said. 'The search and rescue team is battling pre-monsoon showers, and the entire belt is known for heavy rainfall. But we are giving our best to ensure that we are able to find the couple,' the Chief Minister said, adding that the government was using latest technology to trace the newlywed. Police said the couple arrived at Mawlakhiat village from Shillong on a rented Scooty to visit the double-decker root bridge in Nongriat on May 22. They engaged a local guide and stayed overnight at Shipara Homestay. They checked out the next day at about 6 am and intended to return to Mawlakhiat. The couple then left their luggage at another homestay, Manha Homestay at a different location (Saitsohpen) as there was no vacancy and went out to look for accommodation elsewhere. But surprisingly they headed back to Nongriat without their luggage. On May 24, the Sordar of Sohrarim reported an abandoned Scooty. It was traced to the couple via E-challan and an FIR was filed by relatives. This is the second such incident in Meghalaya since April when a 41-year-old Hungarian tourist, Puskas Zsolt, was found dead near Ramdait village along the trail to Nongrait village , 12 days after he was reported missing . Police ruled out any foul play in the Zsolt's death and suspected he might have died after a fall. After that incident, the Meghalaya government issued an advisory for the safety of tourists. They were urged to exercise extreme caution near cliffs, jungles, and water bodies, and hire certified local guides. UNI RRK PRS
