Shillong: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Monday served a 15-day ultimatum to the Meghalaya government, warning of statewide agitation if several long-pending demands are not addressed within the stipulated period.
The union accused the government of delaying key issues for years and alleged authoritarian functioning in connection with recent events in East Jaintia Hills.
In a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, the KSU said repeated discussions and meetings with the government had failed to produce any meaningful outcome, leaving the organisation with “no other option” but to issue the ultimatum. It stated that if the government fails to act, the union will launch protests until its demands are met.
Among its key demands, the KSU called for the cancellation of the environmental public hearing held on July 31 for Shree Cement’s proposed project in East Jaintia Hills.
It also demanded the suspension of the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of East Jaintia Hills, along with the initiation of departmental proceedings against them and officials of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB), alleging irregularities in the conduct of the hearing.
The union alleged that the district administration, police and the MSPCB acted in favour of the company by preventing those opposed to the project from participating in the hearing.
It further claimed that roads were blocked, tear gas was used, stones were pelted at vehicles, and several people were prevented from reaching the venue or detained before the hearing. The KSU maintained that the public hearing was conducted in an arbitrary manner and should be scrapped.
The KSU also reiterated its demand for the immediate implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016, along with the establishment of facilitation centres at entry and exit points across the state.
The union accused the government of unnecessarily delaying the Act’s implementation and sought a time-bound roadmap with weekly progress reports.
Another major demand relates to the implementation of amendments to the Meghalaya Identification, Registration (Safety and Security) of Migrant Workers Act, 2020. According to the union, although the state cabinet approved amendments in August 2024 to strengthen the regulation and verification of migrant workers, the revised law has yet to be enforced.
The KSU further urged the government to honour assurances made in May 2025 regarding recruitment-related issues at NEIGRIHMS, including indigenous reservation and recruitment reforms. It alleged that despite those assurances, no concrete action has been initiated over the past year.
On recruitment reforms, the union demanded the abolition of personal interviews for Group B (non-gazetted), Group C and Group D posts, in line with central government guidelines.
It also called for reforms in the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) and District Selection Committees (DSCs), alleging a continued lack of transparency and corruption in the recruitment process.
The KSU also reminded the government of its commitment to oppose uranium mining in the state, urging it to facilitate resolutions by the autonomous district councils against uranium mining and seek the removal of the Atomic Minerals Directorate office from Nongmensong.
Concluding its memorandum, the union said it expects the government to treat the issues with urgency. It warned that failure to respond within 15 days would leave it with no alternative but to launch various forms of agitation.
Meanwhile, the Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) has also stepped up pressure on the authorities by issuing a separate 10-day ultimatum seeking the annulment of the July 31 public hearing for Shree Cement’s proposed project at Lum Syrman.
The union submitted a legal representation to the Chairman of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB), who is also the Member Secretary of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), as well as to officials of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills.
Alleging that the hearing was a “sham”, the JSU claimed that opponents of the project, including farmers and landowners, were prevented from participating, while roads leading to the venue were deliberately blocked.
The union has demanded that the hearing be declared null and void, that all Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environment Management Plan (EMP) documents based on the proceedings be rejected, that a fresh hearing be conducted under judicial or central monitoring, and that an independent inquiry be ordered into the role of MSPCB officials and the district police.
The JSU warned that if no action is taken within 10 days, it will approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Meghalaya High Court, besides launching democratic protests.
Also Read: Between order and survival: Shillong’s vendors are at a crossroads