Sangma ask Shinde to set-up boundary commission early

Informing Shinde of the resolution adopted for the Boundary Commission in the Meghalaya Assembly which was forwarded to the home ministry in April 2011,

Dr Sangma said that “no feedback has been received from the home so far in the matter.”

In a letter that he handed over to Shinde , Dr Sangma said, “There have been serious differences between Assam and Meghalaya on the matter of inter-state boundary ever since the state of Meghalaya came into existence.” He wrote that various efforts have been made to find an amicable solution to this vexed issue but without any tangible outcome. “This has caused immense hardship to the people living along the border and has also led to violent incidents at times,” he \added in the letter.

Dr Sangma informed Shinde that since no mutually acceptable solution has emerged through bilateral efforts made so far, a resolution was passed by the Meghalaya assembly in the last budget session. It unanimously resolved that the “union government  be moved to constitute a Boundary Commission to re-examine and re-define the inter-state boundary between Meghalaya and Assam acceptable to both the states having regard to the constitutional provisions while giving due weightage to historical, ethnic and linguistic linkages.”

Dr Sangma urged Shinde to constitute the Boundary Commission on “priority so that a lasting solution to this long pending problem is found.” The borders of the two states have witnessed a spate of unrests in recent past and Dr. Sangma said he wanted an expeditious solution to this issue.- By Our Reporter