SHILLONG, APR 5: With talks on the inter-state boundary dispute between Meghalaya and Assam is on, chief minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday maintained that the state government will stick to its political map.“We have our own political map and we will stick to it. So does our counterpart in Assam and they are also sticking to theirs,” Conrad told the Assembly while giving supplementary reply on the issue here on Thursday.
Stating that there are disputes and that’s where the problem lies, he said there are 12 areas of differences and both the state governments are still engaging in discussions.
The chief minister also recalled that the Government of India had earlier constituted Chandrachud Committee to ensure solution on the matter.
The YV Chandrachud Committee was formed in 1985 to demarcate the border between the two states.
Earlier, Minister in-charge Revenue & Disaster Management Kyrmen Shylla informed that the preparation of the political map of Meghalaya was completed in 1979-80.
He said that the areas of differences on the Assam-Meghalaya boundary have been identified and categorized by the joint official committee constituted as a result of a meeting of the chief ministers of Assam and Meghalaya on May 26, 1983.
“The total area under dispute is 2729.14 Sq Kms,” Shylla said while replying to a query raised by East Shillong legislator Ampareen Lyngdoh.
The 12 areas of differences includes Tarabari (4.69 sq km), Gizang (13.53 sq km), Hahim (3.51 sq km), Langpih (289.07 sq kms) Borduar (147.83 sq kms), Boklapara (1.57 sq kms), Nongwah-Mawtamur (137.57 sq kms), Khanapara-Pillangkata (2.29 sq kms), Block I&II (1547.42 sq kms), Khanduli-Psiar (76.80 sq kms) and Ratacherra (11.20 sq kms).
Meanwhile, chief minister also assured the House to examine the proposal of Congress legislator from Umroi George Lyngdoh to revisit the boundary pillars.
According to Lyngdoh, there has been a lot of shifting of these pillars and the need of the hour is to revisit and ensure the pillars are as per political map of the state.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today informed the House that the Assam government has stopped the construction works of the police outpost at Umru village along the inter-state border dispute in Ri Bhoi District.
Replying to a zero hour notice here on Thursday, Conrad said the Deputy Commissioner, Ri Bhoi had taken up the matter with his counterpart in Assam on March 20, requesting him to stop the construction work at Umru with immediate effect.
“Thereafter, state’s chief secretary also wrote to the Assam CS on March 22, requesting to stop the construction works being undertaken by the Assam police following which the construction works at Umru has been stopped by the government of Assam on March 23,” he said.
Earlier while moving the zero hour notice, Congress legislator from Umroi George Lyngdoh informed that the construction works of the Assam police outpost has again started inspite of the ongoing dialogue between the chief secretaries of the two states.
Asked whether the state government will demolish the structure erected by the Assam police, Lyngdoh urged the government to take up the matter seriously and reassure the people residing in the village that they are in safe hands and the government will protect them.
However, the chief minister said that the DC and SP of Ri Bhoi District are liaising with the district administration of West Karbi Anglong District, Hamren and are closely monitoring the situation and developments in the areas to pre-empt any untoward incident arising out the issues.
Earlier, on the intervention of the DC, Ri Bhoi the construction work of the Assam police outpost at Umru under Block II by Assam government had been stopped on March 20.
However the next day when the construction site was re-visited, it was found that Assam police has again resumed construction work in the presence of Assam Battalion personnel and labourers.
On being questioned, they stated that the higher authorities from Hamren, West Karbi Anglong District, Assam instructed them to continue with the construction work, the CM said.
In protest against the action of the Assam government, the people of Umru village held a public meeting on March 23 at Tyrso, Lumdiengjri Public ME School which was attended by NGOs and Dorbar Shnong under Raid Nongtung.
Stating that Umru village is a Nepali dominated area, Conrad said there are two headmen in almost all villages under Block II. Sarkari Gaonbura is appointed by the Assam government while the Rangbah Shnong appointed by the Raid and Hima, he said.
By Our Reporter
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