Shillong, Oct 31: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma emphasized collaboration between the government and traditional institutions to address Shillong’s urban challenges.
“The purpose of these meetings are not just to point out what is not working, but to ask what we can do together to make things better. When the community, the government, the officials and the political leadership come together, there is nothing we cannot achieve,” he said while addressing at a consultative meeting with rangbah shnong and locality leaders under the Greater Shillong Planning Area at the State Convention Centre here on Friday.
During the meeting, the Mission Clean Shillong 2027 was launched — a comprehensive initiative aimed at making Shillong one of the cleanest and most sustainable cities in the Northeast through improved waste management, community participation and better coordination between local bodies and traditional institutions.
The mission focuses on creating litter-free localities, achieving 100 percent waste processing, removing legacy waste from the Marten landfill and introducing tech-based monitoring systems. It also promotes citizen-led cleaning drives and accountability to strengthen civic participation.
The CM noted that regular engagements with locality leaders reflect the government’s intent to institutionalize cooperation and community-driven action.
“We may not be perfect but we are trying very hard. Because of your interventions, many things have improved — from sanitation to lighting and waste management — but a lot more still needs to be done,” he stated.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the government’s priorities, including CCTV installation, street lighting, drainage clearing and city beautification. He called for a system where beautification and maintenance become regular processes and not one-time efforts. He further announced that discussions will soon be held on two critical issues — river cleaning and tackling drug abuse — to ensure concrete results in the coming months. “Let us continue to work as a team to make Shillong clean, green, and a much more livable city,” he added.
During the meeting, officials from the Urban Affairs Department presented a detailed overview of the progress made under the Clean Shillong Mission, launched in July 2025. The Department reported a 50 percent increase in sanitation manpower, systematic drain cleaning and improved waste management efficiency. Nearly half of the 3.5 lakh metric tons of legacy waste at Marten has been remediated through bio-mining, with compost reused as manure in collaboration with the Agriculture Department.
Officials also highlighted ongoing river rejuvenation work, new parking and vendor-relocation projects and on-street parking systems across localities.
Funds were released to 14 localities under an outcome-based model to promote innovative beautification projects and citizen participation. The Chief Minister distributed scale-up fund cheques to these 14 localities and encouraged their use for initiatives such as boundary-wall painting drives and coordinated color schemes to enhance Shillong’s aesthetic appeal.
An interactive session between the Chief Minister and headmen provided a platform for open dialogue on infrastructure, cleanliness, safety and urban governance.
The Chief Minister announced that the first phase of CCTV installation — covering 48 localities with 250 cameras — will be completed by the end of November. The Shillong Municipal Board will serve as the sole maintenance agency for CCTVs and street lights, resolving earlier jurisdictional overlaps. A mission-mode programme for street lights will also be rolled out to improve coverage across lanes and localities.
He also directed a phased cleaning and rehabilitation of city drains to prevent flooding and improve sanitation, aligning these efforts with preparations for the 2027 National Games. High-crime areas will receive priority upgrades, including lighting, CCTV coverage, and footpaths.
Other key highlights included the expansion of Village Defense Party (VDP)-style volunteer programmes to strengthen community policing and tackle drug abuse, traffic management reforms to reduce congestion and upcoming beautification projects. Public toilet facilities and CSR-supported maintenance partnerships will also be prioritized in major commercial areas.
The meeting was attended by Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma, Deputy Chief Minister, Sniawbhalang Dhar, Chief Secretary, Dr. Shakil Ahammed and Commissioner and Secretary Dr Vijay Kumar D along with officials from the Department of Urban Affairs, the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB), and the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA).
Also Read: “Team First Attitude” helped the team to perform better: Nilima Joglekar
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