<span style="color: #222222;">The 73rd Independence Day celebrations were held across the Meghalaya State today. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma unfurled the tri-colour at Polo Grounds in Shillong and took guard of honour of the passing parade contingents comprising of the armed forces including the Army, Para-Military forces, Meghalaya Police, Assam police and school students.<br />''<br />''Addressing the celebration, the Chief Minister highlighted the natural resources which the state is endowed with and mechanism which the State Government is implementing to improve the best use of the available resources. He said, lifting of ban on coal mining is a big victory for the people of Meghalaya.<br />''<br />''On the law and order front, the Chief Minister said the situation is by-and-large peaceful which is a sign for growth.  He said that lack of adequate infrastructure and doctors is a constraint which the State faces in the health-care sector and around 22 heath centres are currently managed in PPP mode which the Government is engaged in expanding. <br />''<br />''He also stressed upon the need to improve entrepreneurship, skill development and preserving the environment in the state. Informing that Meghalaya is one of the first States to have a water policy in place, he said that the Government is also intending to harvest the huge amount of rainfall that the State receives annually.<br />''<br />''Cultural activities and performance by the world acclaimed Shillong Chamber Choir added more colour to the celebration. As part of the Independence Day celebrations, various cultural programmes and activities are organised in different part of Shillong.</span><br />