The regional committees of Assam and Meghalaya decided today to come up with mutually acceptable solutions to resolve the border dispute in West Khasi Hills.
The decision was taken at a joint meeting held in Guwahati.
Chairman of the regional committee for West Khasi Hills and cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh was accompanied by MLAs Renington Lyngdoh Tongkhar, Methodius Dkhar and Remington Momin, MDCs Bajop Pyngrope and Gigur Myrthong and also the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police and Additional District Magistrate.
From the Assam side were Forest Minister Chandramohan Patowary and senior civil servants.
Lyngdoh said that the discussions were very fruitful and there was a spirit of mutual accommodation.
“We zeroed in on a few initiatives the committee would take. One is in response to the claim by the committee that I had led from Meghalaya and the government of Assam was very receptive to the idea that we would first submit the lists of problem-free areas where residents are all inclined to remain in Meghalaya, have been voting as registered voters of Meghalaya and where the Meghalaya government has been carrying out developmental activities for the past several decades,” he said.
“We are looking forward to seeing that these areas can be legally transferred to Meghalaya and that possibility is a very distinct possibility which I assure the people of the state through the active cooperation of the government of Assam that we will be in a position to resolve at the earliest,” Lyngdoh added.
Further, Lyngdoh informed that the regional committees of the two states have also agreed that there are certain areas that remain a problem but the differences will be worked out according to a mutually acceptable solution. The committee will meet in Shillong after Independence Day for this.
“After the two points have been taken care of, the regional committees will undertake a joint visit of the Langpih sector and interact with all stakeholders, including local representatives, traditional heads and also members of the public,” the minister said.
