Villages in West Khasi Hills along the disputed border with Assam have resoundingly supported being part of Meghalaya.
The government-appointed regional committee on the boundary issue visited so-called areas of difference along the border in West Khasi Hills today.
During the visit, the committee led by cabinet minister Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar met the Rangbah Shnong of Kyrdum and Mawsikar and later visited Langpih, Kamphaduli, Athiabari, Umchiak, Rongthuli, Gizang, Tarabari and Malangkona.
During the visit of the regional committee members, the Rangbah Shnongs and villagers in one voice said that they want to be part of Meghalaya.
Nastar Kharlyngdoh, Rangbah Shnong of Umsaitwait, told the committee members that people from Assam are forcibly claiming that this area is theirs, but the fact is Tyrsung River falls under Meghalaya.
Kharlyngdoh also said that before Meghalaya got its statehood, people from the Garo community living in the area got their land pattas from Assam because traditional heads of Jyrngam Riangsih and Nonglang never gave such land documents to them.
The Rangbah Shnong said that, till date, facilities like drinking water, job cards under MGNREGS, electricity and schools in the area come through the Meghalaya government.
“However, we cannot deny there are some black sheep who take benefits from both states,” Kharlyngdoh said.
The committee members also inspected the PMGSY road from Ranighat to Umshiak whose construction was halted by the Assam government. The villagers said that the Assam authorities stopped the construction because, in earlier years, they had built a school in the vicinity and thereby claimed the area as their own.
Cabinet minister and co-chairman of the committee, Brolding Nongsiej, told the Rangbah Shnong of Rongthuli village that he should explain to the villagers that they should make it clear which state they would rather belong to.
The headman, Gerjish Marak, replied that they would never go with Assam since most of the benefits they are getting come from Meghalaya.
Others who accompanied the chairman and co-chairman on the visit were MLA of Nongstoiñ Macmillan Byrsat, MLA of Mawshynrut Gigur Myrthong, MLA of Rambrai Jyrngam Kimfa Marbañiang, MDC of Rambrai Jyrngam Bajop Pynrope and former legislator KP Pangniang.
