SHILLONG, July 31 � Negotiations between survey officials of Meghalaya and Bangladesh have led to resumption of the survey of the adversely possessed lands (APLs) along the international border, officials said yesterday.
Following differences over the disputed tracts, the officials were engaged in a series of negotiations involving the locals and finally decided to carry forward the survey last week.
�After the survey resumed, the joint verification has been completed in Pyrdiwah, Naljuri I and III and Tamabil. The Lyngkhat I and II tracts would be completed by Monday,� a State survey official said.
�We will complete the verification of those areas where there is no dispute. Later, we will go for further negotiations in the disputed areas,� the official said.
The verification of the �adverse possession lands� (APLs), beginning at the Sylhet-Meghalaya border, is being conducted by the Land Records officials of Bangladesh and Meghalaya.
The decision for the joint verification was taken last September during a meeting between top Indian and Bangladesh officials at Dhaka to resolve disputes over borders like Dibirhaor, Sripur, Tamabil, Sonarhat, Bichnakandi, Protappur and Lalakhal in Sylhet with Meghalaya.
Since the joint survey began last December, the exercise has been stalled frequently in the face of protest by border people and difference of opinion between the Survey officials of both the countries at several places.
The joint survey of the disputed borders along Bangladesh-Meghalaya is expected to pave the way for settlement of the boundary dispute.
According to official records, currently there are 551.80 acres of Bangladeshi land under �adverse possession� of India (Assam and Meghalaya) while 226.81 acres of Indian land is under adverse possession of Bangladesh. � PTI
