Shillong, Sept 27: As part of the process to resolve the boundary issue between Assam and Meghalaya as well as send a goodwill message to people residing in the disputed areas, Chief Ministers of the both the States will soon visit these areas.
This visit is part of the decisions taken on August 6, 2021 during the second round of border talks at Guwahati between the respective State teams led by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
Assam Chief Minister had informed after the meeting that as a message of goodwill he along with the Chief Minister of Meghalaya has also decided to visit Langpih.
The first round of talks were held at Shillong on July 23, 2021.
Meghalaya CM said the dates haven’t been worked out yet but they will be visiting the areas ‘very shortly’. “We may not visit all the locations. The Assam CM and myself will be going to specific locations only, we have not decided which and when but we have decided that we will go,” he added.
Assam & Meghalaya regional committee heads to visit disputed areas soon
Sangma also informed that in the meantime, the regional committee heads and the Assam counterparts will also be visiting very soon to the different areas for having ground checks and consultations with the local people.
Both the state governments have constituted the regional committees which are tasked to give recommendations on resolving the vexed border issue.
“We have just had our first meeting where we have now introduced different chairmen to the counterparts and we have asked them now to start meeting the stakeholders at the regional level because there are different district councils, different political parties, MLAs, civil society organizations – it is important to take everybody along,” Sangma said adding “We were trying to ensure that we talk to everybody and carry everybody along and take their suggestions. So it is a long process and it will require a lot of work. So it has started now.”
According to him, initial suggestions and reports that have been coming in are there with the government.
6 of 12 disputed areas to be resolved within 30 days
One of the highlights of the decisions taken during the second round of talks between Assam and Meghalaya held at Guwahati on August 6, was to find amicable solutions to resolve the six of the twelve areas of difference shared between the two states within 30 days.
The six areas of difference include Tarabari (4.69 sq km), Gizang (13.53 sq km), Hahim (3.51 sq km), Boklapara (1.57 sq kms), Khanapara-Pilangkata (2.29 sq kms) and Ratacherra (11.20 sq kms).
