The first meeting of the West Jaiñtia Hills regional committee as part of the Phase 2 negotiations between Meghalaya and Assam to resolve their disputed border met at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in today.
Deputy Chief Minister and committee chairperson Sniawbhalang Dhar, cabinet minister Comingone Ymbon, JHADC Chief Executive Member Thombor Shiwat, MDC Aiborlang Shadap and Deputy Commissioner of West Jaintia Hills Batlang S Sohliya were present at the meeting.
Speaking to reporters Dhar said the committee will soon visit the areas of dispute in Block-I before submitting the report to the State government. He said the committee will work in tandem with the district administration in this regard.
It may be mentioned that the State government has directed the three regional committees to submit their reports to the government within a period of 45 days from March 24 which is the date of the notification regarding setting up of the committees.
The reports will be based on the inspection of the villages and based on the agreed yardsticks of historical perspective, ethnicity of the local population, administrative convenience of local people, contiguity with the boundary and the perception of the people living in the area.
The State government has reconstituted the three regional committees to examine the present status of the remaining six areas of differences which include Langpih in West Khasi Hills; Borduar, Nongwah-Mawtamur, Deshdoomreah and Block-II in Ri Bhoi; Block- I, Psiar – Khanduli in West Jaintia Hills.
