The government of Assam has apparently built a road in a rural border area of Ri-Bhoi which was awarded to Meghalaya in last year’s border deal.
Today, the traditional chief of Hima Nongspung along with representatives of two pressure groups – Confederation of Ri Bhoi People and KSU Western Ri-Bhoi – carried out a spot inspection at Bakhlapara.
This spot inspection was conducted after the information was received that the Assam government, through its Public Works Department, has constructed the road project at an estimated amount of Rs 71.59 lakh for a distance of 1.203km connecting Patgon to Bakhlapara.
In the first phase of border settlement between Meghalaya and Assam, the area was assigned to Meghalaya, but Assam has apparently ignored this and constructed the road anyway.
The traditional head of Hima Nongspung, Petrict Syiemiong, told newsmen that he has lodged a complaint with police to stop this illegal construction but when the police tried to intervene, they could not find those contractors or workers who executed the project.
Syiemiong also wrote a complaint to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) but he has no idea whether this was acted on.
