The Meghalaya Cabinet has recently given the green light to a strategic initiative aimed at significantly boosting the stateβs tourism industry through the leasing of 273 acres of underutilized land to the tourism department. The land in question is owned by Meghalaya Electric Corporation Ltd and its subsidiaries and is located near the picturesque Umiam Lake, one of the most renowned natural attractions in the region. The lease agreement will span 60 years, with the option to extend it for an additional 30 years. This land, once developed, is expected to become a hub for tourism, offering a variety of attractions that will draw visitors from across India and abroad.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to utilize the stateβs natural resources to fuel economic growth through tourism. The leased land will be used for the development of several new projects, including luxury accommodations and recreational facilities. A key component of the plan includes the construction of five-star hotels, which will cater to upscale travelers seeking a luxurious experience in the heart of Meghalayaβs natural beauty. In addition to the hotels, the tourism department aims to introduce lake cruise services, providing visitors with a chance to immerse themselves in the tranquil charm of Umiam Lake from a unique waterfront perspective a one-of-a-kind experience.
The government envisions these developments taking place within the next year, in alignment with their broader vision for transforming Meghalaya into a prominent tourist destination in India. The tourism department has outlined plans to initiate these projects shortly after receiving approval, with the goal of creating jobs, boosting the local economy, and generating substantial revenue. The natural beauty of Umiam Lake, combined with these planned developments, is expected to make the area a sought-after location for both domestic and international tourists. The government has stressed the importance of capitalizing on Meghalayaβs inherent scenic charm to attract tourists, which will contribute to the growth of the hospitality and tourism industries.
Anila Β· 3 months ago Published on 2025-10-28 17:45:19 ID NUMBER: 135425
Equidae (commonly known as the horse family) is the taxonomic family of horses and related animals, including asses, zebras, and many extinct species known only from fossils. The family evolved more than 50 million years ago, in the Eocene epoch, from a small, multi-toed ungulate into larger, single-toed animals. All extant species are in the genus Equus, which originated in North America. Equidae belongs to the order Perissodactyla, which includes the extant tapirs and rhinoceros, and several extinct families. It is more specifically grouped within the superfamily Equoidea, the only other family being the extinct Palaeotheriidae.
The tiger (Panthera tigris) is a large cat and a member of the genus Panthera native to Asia. It has a powerful, muscular body with a large head and paws, a long tail and orange fur with black, mostly vertical stripes. It is traditionally classified into nine recent subspecies, though some recognise only two subspecies, mainland Asian tigers and the island tigers of the Sunda Islands.
The Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) or Canadian lynx is one of the four living species in the genus Lynx. It is a medium-sized wild cat characterized by long, dense fur, triangular ears with black tufts at the tips, and broad, snowshoe-like paws. Its hindlimbs are longer than the forelimbs, so its back slopes downward to the front. The Canada lynx stands 48β56 cm (19β22 in) tall at the shoulder and weighs between 5 and 17 kg (11 and 37 lb). It is a good swimmer and an agile climber.
The Asian golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) is a medium-sized wild cat native to the northeastern Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and China. It has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 2025, and is threatened by poaching and habitat destruction, since Southeast Asian forests are undergoing the world's fastest regional deforestation.[1]
The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is a medium-sized spotted wild cat that reaches 40β50 cm (16β20 in) at the shoulders and weighs between 7 and 15.5 kg (15 and 34 lb) on average. It is native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Margarita. Carl Linnaeus scientifically described it in 1758. Two subspecies are recognized.
The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a wild small cat native to Africa. It is widespread in sub-Saharan countries, where it inhabits grasslands, wetlands, moorlands and bamboo thickets. Across its range, it occurs in protected areas, and hunting it is either prohibited or regulated in range countries.
The cougar (Puma concolor) (/ΛkuΛΙ‘Ιr/, KOO-gΙr), also called puma, mountain lion, catamount, and panther, is a large small cat native to the Americas. It inhabits North, Central and South America, making it the most widely distributed wild, terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere, and one of the most widespread in the world. Its range spans Yukon, British Columbia and Alberta in Canada, the Rocky Mountains and areas in the western United States. Further south, its range extends through Mexico to the Amazon rainforest and the southern Andes Mountains in Patagonia. It is an adaptable generalist species, occurring in most American habitat types. It prefers habitats with dense underbrush and rocky areas for stalking but also lives in open areas.
The fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is a medium-sized wild cat of South and Southeast Asia. It has a deep yellowish-grey fur with black lines and spots. Adults have a head-to-body length of 57 to 78 cm (22 to 31 in), with a 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 in) long tail. Males are larger than females, weighing 8 to 17 kg (18 to 37 lb), while females average 5 to 9 kg (11 to 20 lb). It lives mostly in the vicinity of wetlands, along rivers, streams, oxbow lakes, in swamps and mangroves where it preys mostly on fish. Other prey items include birds, insects, small rodents, molluscs, reptiles including snakes, amphibians and carrion of cattle. The fishing cat is thought to be primarily nocturnal. It is a good swimmer and can swim long distances, even underwater.
The European wildcat (Felis silvestris) is a small wildcat species native to continental Europe, Great Britain, Ireland, Turkey and the Caucasus. Its fur is brownish to grey with stripes on the forehead and on the sides and has a bushy tail with a black tip. It reaches a head-to-body length of up to 65 cm (26 in) with a 34.5 cm (13.6 in) long tail, and weighs up to 7.5 kg (17 lb).
Suinae is a subfamily of artiodactyl mammals that includes several of the extant members of Suidae and their closest relatives β the domestic pig and related species, such as babirusas. Several extinct species within the Suidae are classified in subfamilies other than Suinae. However, the classification of the extinct members of the Suoidea β the larger group that includes the Suidae, the peccary family (Tayassuidae), and related extinct species β is controversial, and different classifications vary in the number of subfamilies within Suidae and their contents.[1] Some classifications, such as the one proposed by paleontologist Jan van der Made in 2010, even exclude from Suinae some extant taxa of Suidae, placing these excluded taxa in other subfamilies.[2]