The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) will fund development activities along the disputed areas in the Meghalaya-Assam border, especially those in neighbouring Karbi-Anglong.
KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM), Pyniaid Sing Syiem informed that he has spoken to his counterpart in the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) that Assam side should not prevent development activities to be implemented by the district council in Khasi inhabited villages in disputed Block II.
“We have said that peace in these areas should be maintained and when it comes to developmental activities it should be respected by both sides,” Syiem told reporters.
The CEM said that one of the first projects to be initiated by the KHADC is the construction of an ossuary at Ummat village, Ri-Bhoi district and construction of a building of the Khadar Raid in a centrally located place like Umlaper.
Meanwhile, traditional heads of Khadar Raid in Ri-Bhoi under Khyrim Syiemship met the CEM with a plea to restore the tradition, culture, language, sacred groves, rituals, traditional musical instruments and mawbynna (monoliths) which are physical remnants of elaborate funeral rituals that the Hynñiewtrep community practised traditionally.
The traditional heads also informed that in February 2025 a cultural festival to promote culture and tradition will be organised and sought funds from the KHADC.
Council still waiting on delimitation committee report
The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council’s (KHADC) Executive Committee is still waiting for the report from the delimitation committee regarding redrawing of constituency boundaries, Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pyniaid Sing Syiem said.
“We leave it to the wisdom of the members of the delimitation committee,” Syiem told reporters.
Quoting media reports, the CEM said that, as per the statement of the chairman of the committee, the report will be submitted this month.
He also said that the MDCs want the elections to be held as soon as possible.
“From our end we are ready,” Syiem said.
Elections were due earlier this year but were postponed to allow the delimitation committee to do its work.
