Assam-Meghalaya regional committees to visit Langpih next month

SHILLONG, AUG 28: The regional committees of Meghalaya and Assam on Monday decided to conduct a joint visit to villages under the Langpih sector in September, after the Assembly sessions in the two states are over.

The decision was taken at the second round of meeting of the regional committee for West Khasi Hills led by cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh and regional committee of Kamrup district led by Assam cabinet minister Chandra Mohan Patowary held at Pinewood hotel, here.

Addressing the media, Lyngdoh said the meeting had narrowed down the areas of conflict or areas where both the States have made claims and counterclaims.

“The members of district council (MDCs) and deputy commissioners of both the States have been tasked with the responsibility of preparing a list and coming up with specific names (of villages, which are problem free) in the next meeting, when we undertake the joint inspection,” he said.

The Chairman of regional committee for West Khasi Hills, said after this, the two regional committees will meet for conducting a joint onsite visit to villages under Langpih sector in the month of September, after the end of the Assembly sessions in the two States.

“We will try to cater to four or five villages and choose a central point as the meeting point so that we can go for site visits in the month of September,” he said.

When asked, Lyngdoh said, “We cannot be specific because these matters are hyper sensitive and we don’t want needless controversies and we don’t want any groups with vested interests to then take advantage of the discussion because the discussions are ongoing.”

Terming the joint meeting very cordial and fruitful, Chairman of regional committee for Kamrup district sector Chandra Mohan Patowary informed that both the States have exchange documents as far as their claims over villages in Langpih sector.

“We had a very cordial discussion today and we have narrowed down the gap. Previously it was a huge gap, now it is narrowed down and I hope after the Assembly sessions of Meghalaya and Assam because in September, Assembly sessions of Meghalaya and Assam will start. So after the Assembly session we will visit the areas and we will fix the date and after visiting the areas I hope we will conclude the discussion and we will arrive at a final conclusion of the meeting,” he said.