Chairman of State Planning Board, Lambor Malngiang, has urged the state government to adopt free land registration in the disputed border areas in order to encourage landowners to formally register their holdings with the Meghalaya government and thus strengthen the state’s hand when it comes to negotiating to resolve the issue with Assam.
Malngiang said this during his spot inspection of Ïongkhuli village today, which follows a border clash on Monday between Assam police and local people.
He also expressed concern that this incursion occurred just a couple of days after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held talks with Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma on the border issue in Shillong.
On the other hand, Malngiang also urged the state government to bring more development to the border area as Assam has tried to lure villages along the long border with infrastructural improvements.
The inspection was carried out in the company of Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun and Umsing MLA Jason Mawlong.