SHILLONG, July 27 � Chief Secretaries of Meghalaya and Assam would seek more time for building the platform to help take forward the inter-State boundary talks.
Chief Secretaries of the two neighbouring States would write to their respective Chief Ministers with the request to extend time for working on the modalities to settle the inter-State boundary dispute.
After the May 14 Langpih firing incident, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and his Assam counterpart Tarun Gogoi agreed to constitute a Chief Secretary level committee on June 5 to settle the inter-State boundary dispute.
It was agreed that the joint committee would prepare modalities to take forward the inter-State boundary talks by submitting its first report within 45 days. But the committee failed to meet that deadline.
�Its been decided that more time would be sought from our respective Chief Ministers to resolve this issue as it is complicated and difficult,� Meghalaya Chief Secretary WMS Pariat said here.
Pariat admitted that the task before him and his Assam counterpart was difficult owing to the historical nature of the dispute with claims and counter claims from both sides.
�Leaders in the past have tried to solve this issue unsuccessfully. We want to work thoroughly so that some sort of understanding can be chalked out,� he added.
Pariat said with Assam showing its resolve to solve the long pending boundary dispute there was some hope this time.
Meghalaya and Assam have 12 areas of difference relating to boundary demarcation, which includes Langpih.
