Shillong, Mar 15: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday said once the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the government of Assam is finalized it will lay down the principles for the next phase of discussion for resolving the other six areas of difference shared between the two states.

Replying to a special motion moved by Umroi legislator George B Lyngdoh in the Assembly, Sangma said a meeting will be held in New Delhi at 4.30 pm on March 27, to finally agree on the MoU signed between Assam and Meghalaya for ending the dispute in the first 6 areas of difference.

“I am hopeful that we are able to come to a final conclusion of the first six areas of difference and I think it will be a historic moment for the state. This will lay the principles down for the next phase of discussion,” he said.

“This is a clear indication of what kind of solution we are looking at in the coming days and the greatest plus point for us is that these defined principles will help in the solution and finding a way forward in the next areas which are more complicated than what we are right now,” he added.

According to him, areas like Psiar, Khanduli (under Block I) and areas like Langpih are very sensitive areas.

Stating that both the states have been able to push the principle ‘will of the people’ in the first phase, Sangma said, “With discussion going forward, the will of the people in these locations in the next phase of six locations will be very important.”

Maintaining that there is no perfect solution, the chief minister however said, “We have been able to keep the interest of the government of Meghalaya and the interest of the government of Assam and find a solution where it is a win-win solution for all.”

“Yes there are certain solutions where we have to sit down and agree in terms of Meghalaya which the government of Assam agreed on those areas. Tarabari is a very big example of it where 4.6 sq km, an area which is completely under Assam administration but Assam finally agreed to that because of the people’s will,” he added.

The chief minister further informed that a rough area of 36.79 sq km in these 6 areas under differences and after the detailed discussion, surveys and visits being made by the regional committees approximately 18 sq.km plus/minus will come to Meghalaya and 18 sq.km plus/minus will go to Assam.

“Further, I would like to state that ownership of the land will not be affected irrespective of the administrative control by whichever state gets the particular area,” he said.

Pointing out that the dominant criteria out of five have been the will of the people of that area and the overall ethnicity of the local population, Sangma said, “I am very happy to be able to present the progress of work done in the 6 of the 12 areas of difference in the golden jubilee year of our state.”

He also thanked all the leaders in the past who have contributed to bringing this discussion to this level today.

There are many former Chief Ministers, former Ministers, former Chief Secretaries and officials who have contributed largely to the discussions and to the details of all the studies that have been done and it is most appropriate for us to recognize the efforts that have been made.

He said it is that process which we have taken forward and which is being moved towards conclusion today, for 6 areas of the 12 areas.

Meanwhile, the chief minister also lauded the hard work of the Regional Committees, which have visited villages which were never visited before.

“And to be able to come to a conclusion in this kind of a complicated situation it cannot be done by simply sitting in Guwahati or in Shillong. It has to be done by visiting the areas and meeting the people who are being affected by this decision and it is only because of the hard work that has been put in by the Regional Committees and all the work that has been done by them that we are able to arrive at the MoU with the Government of Assam,” he said.