One day before the Chief Ministers of Meghalaya and Assam hold their second round of negotiations to solve the border impasse between the two states, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong led a regional committee appointed to study the dispute in Ri-Bhoi to Nongpoh where a meeting was held to discuss the issue in detail.
“As a first step, the district committee focused on the area of Khanapara-Pilingkata-Umtyrnga and Bakhlapara areas under Jirang constituency and the other areas of differences between Assam and Meghalaya, like Block II, will be discussed in the future as they have to be studied and examined thoroughly,” Tynsong told the media after the meeting.
Those who participated in the deliberations were Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem, Mawhati MLA Dasakhiatbha Lamare, Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun, as well as MDCs from the district, the KHADC executive member in charge of Elaka, Jambor War, traditional leaders and representatives of the district administration.
The committee instructed all stakeholders to play their pivotal role in protecting the land of Meghalaya by providing valid documents that would strengthen the state’s claim to the areas of dispute.
Besides the agreed areas of difference, Assam has also been throwing its weight about in other places, such as Iongkhuli, which is also in Ri-Bhoi but well within Meghalaya territory. Last week’s encroachment there by Assam will be raised in the Chief Ministerial meeting tomorrow in Guwahati, Tynsong added.
