The Meghalaya government held consultative meetings here today with representatives of the Khasi and Jaiñtia Hills Autonomous District Councils (KHADC and JHADC) and NGOs as part of the ongoing process to resolve the border dispute with Assam.
Despite being an all-party meeting, members of the opposition Congress and Trinamool Congress did not attend.
The State government had constituted three regional committees, headed by cabinet ministers, to look into all aspects of the border dispute in three parts of the state – West Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi and Jaintia Hills. The former two have submitted their reports to the Chief Minister, while the latter is expected to do so next week.
Today a chance was given for the district councils, NGOs, MLAs and political leaders outside government to give their views on the border impasse.
Speaking to reporters after their meeting, KHADC Chief Executive Member, Titostarwell Chyne, said that a comprehensive report was submitted to the CM based on the facts and findings, including maps of the Himas that are under the areas of difference.
“We have also given the appendix of the Autonomous District Council rules formed in 1952 and all the villages falling under the United Khasi-Jaiñtia Autonomous District Council since then are under our jurisdiction,” he said, adding that it was also recommended to the government to go by Paragraph 20 of the Sixth Schedule where it spells out that areas falling under the KHADC belong to Meghalaya.
Echoing similar views, the CEM of the JHADC, Thombor Shiwat, said that there was never any real dispute in Ratacherra, one of the 12 areas of difference, as it is demarcated by the Malidor River and there was no interference from Assam. However, he said that now that the matter is under discussion between the two states, the border has now become an issue for some.
Meanwhile, the various pressure groups, who met the CM in a separate meeting, suggested that the government should take into consideration the voice of the Himas, headmen and landowners in the disputed places before jumping to any resolution so as to ensure that the people do not lose an inch of their land to Assam.
Dondi Khongsit, a pressure group leader, pointed out that the people in Meghalaya face red-tapism when it comes to registering their land with the state government, while Assam has streamlined the whole process, which tempts the people along the border to register their property in the other state.
“We suggested to the government that the staff from the Revenue Department or the various Deputy Commissioners’ offices should go to the border areas and meet the people who have the records and assist them with the registration,” he said.
The government side was positive about the outcome of the meetings.
“We had a very detailed discussion. Suggestions and submissions were made by the concerned stakeholders and we accepted their views and I am happy to inform you that we will go forward with the pending issue to resolve the border dispute,” Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong told the press.
The government will now thoroughly examine the suggestions and proposals put forward by those in attendance at the meetings.
“I am extremely glad that the meeting went very well and we are all united in resolving the issue,” cabinet minister Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar said. “No members expressed dissatisfaction but everyone expressed their happiness with the steps taken by the government. We are happy that we are getting the cooperation of traditional heads, NGOs and we hope that we will be able to solve the dispute to some extent if not 100 percent,” he said.
Meanwhile, not a single political leader from the Congress or TMC was seen at today’s meeting.
Tongkhar said that both parties had been invited and the government was keen for them to participate.
“They know better why they did not come. We were hoping for their suggestions,” he said.
