The regional committees on the second phase of boundary settlement of both Meghalaya and Assam will submit their final report to their respective state government in August.
The second phase of border talks will resolve issues on six remaining areas of dispute Langpih (West Khasi Hills), Borduar, Nongwah-Mawtamur, Deshdoomreah and Block-II (Ri-Bhoi), and Block-I and Psiar-Khanduli (West Jaintia Hills).
The first joint meeting between the regional committee for West Jaintia Hills led by Meghalaya deputy chief minister Sniawbhalang Dhar and regional committee for West Karbi Anglong led by Assam cabinet minister Pijush Hazarika was held today at the State Convention Centre here to discuss on ways and means to settle the border disputes in Block-I and Psiar-Khanduli.
Speaking to media persons, Dhar said today’s meeting was to work out the formula for resolving the border issue in West Jaintia Hills – West Karbi Anglong sector.
“In the days to come, members of the committees will make a joint inspection to the areas of differences and we will come back and discuss next month,” Dhar said.
He also said that the chief ministers of both the states would conduct a joint visit to these areas.
“Our target is to submit the report to the (respective) state governments by August. So maybe in the last week of July, we will have to conduct a visit (to the border areas),” Dhar said.
He added that their approach is to solve the border dispute and solve it amicably.
Meanwhile, Hazarika blamed miscreants for the violence in Khanduli and Block 1 area. He also said that there has been no disturbance caused by Assam.
“We have a good relationship with Meghalaya. Miscreants don’t belong to us. We have high regards for the people of Meghalaya as well as people of other parts of the North East. We should solve the long pending dispute amicably and I am confident it will be solved within a short period of time,” Hazarika said.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioners of West Jaintia Hills District and West Karbi Anglong District, members of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) and Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council (KAADC) and also village headmen from both districts.
It may be mentioned that on March 29, 2022, the Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Conrad Sangma, signed a boundary agreement for the first six areas of disputes in presence of Union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.
The agreement settled the boundary disputes in Tarabari (4.69 sq km), Gizang (13.53 sq km), Hahim (3.51 sq km), Boklapara (1.57 sq km), Khanapara-Pilangkata (2.29 sq km) and Ratacherra (11.20 sq km).
According to the agreement, Assam will obtain complete control of 18.51 sq km of the 36.79 sq km disputed area taken up for settlement in the first phase, while Meghalaya will have full control of 18.28 sq km.
