The boundary talks between Meghalaya and Assam yesterday at Umkiang saw the Assam side bringing a contingent of media persons to cover the event whereas the Meghalaya media was not officially invited to witness the talks.
The meeting to discuss the boundary settlement on the Ratacherra sector of East Jaintia Hills was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) Chief Executive Member Thombor Shiwat and Sutnga-Saipung MLA Santa Mary Shylla from Meghalaya side while the Assam delegation was led by Forest and Environment Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary.
During the meeting held at Holy Cross Secondary School, Umkiang, the representatives of both states discussed the modalities for kick-starting the boundary settlement in Ratacherra sector.
Unhappy with the lack of adequate media representation from Meghalaya to cover the boundary talks, the KSU Narpuh Circle said that this has raised doubts over the transparency of the talks.
“It is a shame that Meghalaya did not have media representatives in this meeting whereas Assam brought a large number of press representatives from Guwahati to cover the meeting. How can we trust the outcome of this talk when our own media personnel were not there? Is there a trust deficit between the Meghalaya government and media persons of our State as far as border talks are concerned,” said KSU Narpuh Circle president Kwilnis S. Suchiang today.
He also said that the two states during the meeting agreed that Malidor river would be the natural boundary between Meghalaya and Assam and that both states would be responsible for protection of the river and its aquatic life and that stone extraction from the river would be prohibited.
“As far as we know, the issues discussed and agreed at yesterday’s meeting will be taken to the chief ministers of the two states to take a final call,” Suchiang said.
It may be mentioned that the Pnar people residing in Baikam village, which is currently under Assam, have expressed their desire to be brought under Meghalaya.
During the meeting, both Meghalaya and Assam said that the concerns raised by the Pnar people of Baikam village would be addressed during the boundary settlement.
