SHILLONG, April 5 - Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today said in the State Assembly that both Meghalaya and Assam Governments are working together to resolve the long-standing boundary dispute between the two neighbouring States.
Intervening during the Question Hour, Sangma said that the Chief Secretary-level talks between the two States have been going on, and that both the Governments are trying to find a solution to the problem.
The Chief Minister further informed the House that there are 12 areas of dispute between the two States. He pointed out that both the States have their own political maps with claims over these areas and both sides are sticking to their respective claims.
In this regard, the Government of India has also formed the Chandrachud Committee which is examining the matter and trying to find a solution. He assured the House that a field visit would be conducted to ensure that the boundary pillars are in place as per the political maps. Revenue Minister Kyrmen Shylla informed the House that the total area of dispute in the 12 sites measures 22,429 square km.
Replying to a Zero Hour notice moved by Opposition Congress member George Lyngdoh, the Chief Minister said the construction of a border outpost at Umru village by the Assam Government has stopped following intervention by the Meghalaya Government.
Sangma said the construction began in Umru village in Ri-Bhoi district on March 14 this year. However, the villagers of the area opposed the move and the Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi intervened and asked the Assam Government officials to stop the construction. A few days later, the work was stopped.
However, the work started again and the villagers and NGOs convened a meeting in the area, calling for a halt to the construction works. The police was asked to maintain law and order, the Chief Minister informed the House.
Later, the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya wrote to his Assam counterpart on March 23 and apprised her of the situation in the area, following which the construction work has stopped, Sangma said.
