SHILLONG, AUG 9: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) on Tuesday served a one-month deadline to the state government to explicitly clarify without delay whether the some villages under Raid Nongtung in Ri Bhoi district are still within the jurisdiction of the state.
While demanding for resolving of the age-old boundary dispute with Assam, the delegation of the HYC-Raid Nongtung Circle in its 8-point memorandum submitted to the Home Minister Roshan Warjri also asked the government to provide adequate security in the Block II area.
The delegation of the HYC expressed concern over the attitude of the home minister who despite agreeing to meet them at 3 pm on Tuesday failed to be present in her office chamber.
According to them, the home minister had also requested them to send the points which they proposed to discuss with her via Whatsapp, which they alleged reflect the lack of seriousness on the issues concerning the people residing in the inter-state border.
Speaking to reporters, HYC-RNC vice president Moonshine Shadap said, “We demand the state government to provide a clear cut clarification on the status of these villages under Raid Nongtung whether they are still within the jurisdiction of Meghalaya.”
The villages include – Umlaper, Madan Umwang, Umthlieh, Sabuda, Jatalong, Mawshlading, Umru, Umshyngktat, Ummat and others.
He informed that these villages are mostly inhabited by local Khasi indigenous people, which also have proper land documents.
Stating that it is time for the state government to ensure the long pending border dispute is resolved, Shadap said, “We urged the home minister to take up the matter at the earliest in order to end the problems arising due to illegal activities by the Assam government.”
On the other hand, HYC-RNC president Hercules Suting said that the council also demands the government to immediately upgrade the Mawlasnai police outpost to police station and also set up a police outpost at Madan-Umwang for ensuring adequate security to the people in the inter-state border.
“The government is also urged to further strengthen the patrolling by increasing more and more battalion or special operation team in Block II areas,” he said.
Meanwhile, the HYC also demanded the government to take steps in creating a special department to look after the developmental activities in these areas besides extending electricity supply to various villages like Madan Umwang, Umthlieh, Umlaper and others.
According to the HYC, these villages have been neglected for so long as the electricity posts which were earlier set up by Meghalaya government were removed by the Assam authorities.
Demanding immediate removal of an alleged illegal toll gate set up by the Assam forest department at Raid Nongtung, Suting said that the presence of the gate has affected the local people as it is collecting up to Rs 7000 per vehicle carrying agricultural produce and other commodities.-By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours