By Our Reporter
Shillong: The State Government has appraised the Assam government of its intention to implement various developmental programmes in the disputed territory of Langpih in West Khasi Hills district.
The message was conveyed during a joint inspection at Langpih by the magistrates of West Khasi Hills and Kamrup districts on Friday.
Briefing about the development, Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh said that the Assam officials have been informed about Meghalaya Government’s intention to construct a hospital and a market place at Langpih.
According to Lyngdoh, the Assam officials had indicated that Assam at present does not have any scheme to be implemented at Langpih.
The magistrates of both West Khasi Hills and Kamrup districts would submit their reports of the joint inspection to their respective deputy commissioners who would meet later to discuss the reports.
Lyngdoh also informed that officials of both Assam and Meghalaya have taken a call to maintain peace and harmony in the disputed area.
On May 24 this year, the chief secretary-level talks between the two states had stressed on a coordinated approach towards reducing tension and boosting development in the area that both states claim as their own.
The talks between Meghalaya Chief Secretary WMS Pariat and his Assam counterpart NK Das, had decided on joint visits by officials of both the states at regular intervals.
The second decision involves active consultation by deputy commissioners of Kamrup and West Khasi Hills before taking up development projects to evade charges of pushing one’s own agenda and creating bad blood.
Besides, both sides had also decided to involve the local people to reduce tension and remove irritants. This could be achieved through setting up of respective state committees which would coordinate with each other during flare-ups or on any proposed development project.