SHILLONG, JUN 30: The Meghalaya government has reconstituted three Regional Committees to examine the status of the remaining six areas of difference along the inter-state boundary with Assam.
The notification issued by the chief secretary Dr Shakil P Ahmed on Tuesday states that the move is in partial modification of the political department’s earlier notification dated March 20, 2023.
The three panels will cover Langpih in West Khasi Hills District; Borduar, Nongwah-Mawtamur, Deshdoomreah, Block-II in Ri-Bhoi District; and Block-I, Psiar-Khanduli in West Jaintia Hills District.
For Ri Bhoi, the committee will be chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong. Members include Cabinet Ministers Sosthenes Sohtun and Mayralborn Syiem, Executive Member of KHADC Denzil Raynard Chen, and Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner as Member Convenor.
The West Khasi Hills panel will be headed by Power Minister Metbah Lyngdoh, with members including Ministers Methodius Dkhar and R.L. Tongkhar, MLAs Remington Gabil Momin, KHADC CEM Winston Tony Lyngdoh, MDC Lurshai Kharbani, and the West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner as Member Convenor.
Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar will chair the West Jaintia Hills committee. Its members are Education Minister Lakmen Rymbui, MLAs Comingone Ymbon and Nujorki Sungoh, JHADC CEM Thombor Shiwat, MDC Aiborlang Shadap, and the West Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner as Member Convenor.
The committees have been tasked with eight terms of reference. They will coordinate with the relevant Regional Committee set up by the Government of Assam and cross-reference village names claimed by Meghalaya with Assam’s records.
The panels will also establish the geographical location and contiguity of villages, examine population records including ethnicity, and prepare an ‘As-Is’ Public Asset Register of assets created by both states in the villages.
Each committee will visit all villages and interact with communities, elected representatives of the Autonomous District Councils, and other stakeholders “to learn about the perception of the people living in the area.”
They will also document physical and time-use distances from villages to the nearest public service delivery point or administrative unit. The committees may co-opt any member when necessary.
Jurisdictional Deputy Commissioners will provide all secretarial and logistic support for the functioning of the committees. The Member Convenor of each committee is to fix dates of visits and discussions in consultation with their Assam counterpart.
The committees are to submit their reports to the Government of Meghalaya “within a period of 45 days from the date of this notification based on the inspection of the villages and based on the agreed yardsticks of historical perspective, ethnicity of the local population, administrative convenience of local people, contiguity with the boundary and the perception of the people living in the area.”
By Our Reporter
