By Our Reporter
Shillong: Residents of the disputed territory of Langpih in West Khasi Hills have resolved to take upon themselves the onus of implementing various projects and schemes in the area if the Meghalaya Government fails to resolve the age-old border conflict with Assam.
“We want to get an equal opportunity to implement the various Centrally-sponsored schemes without any interference from the Assam Government,” Sordar of Hima Raid Mynsaw, Hindro Samakha, said here on Thursday.
Samakha also made clear the intentions of the people of Langpih to move ahead with the developmental projects in the ‘disputed area’ despite the interference of the Assam police.
“We cannot live in fear any more and it’s time that we bring an end to this age-old border conflict,” Samakha said.
Earlier, a delegation of people from Langpih met Nongstoin MLA Hoping Stone Lyngdoh to discuss issues pertaining to developmental schemes at Langpih.
The same delegation also met Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma in the evening with the request to approach the Chief Minister of Assam immediately and settle the boundary dispute once and for all.
“We do understand that this problem cannot be solved in one day or one week but we have been waiting for 40 years now. Many chief ministers have come and gone but we are still facing the brunt of oppression and negligence in terms of development simply because this is a disputed area,” Samakha said.
Some of the incomplete projects at Langpih include the construction of the village haat and various schools under SSA.
The two state governments had, earlier, agreed to maintain status quo in the disputed area and had also agreed to inform the respective DCs before implementation of any project or scheme in the area.
It may be recalled that last month, an under-construction kitchen shed and a toilet of the Miangbyrkong Lower Primary School had been demolished by Assam Police personnel who also confiscated construction materials from the spot.
