From Our Correspondent
NONGSTOIN: The boundary imbroglio between Meghalaya and Assam sprung up once again after the Assam government began bringing in electric poles for electrical supply at Langpih in West Khasi Hills District last week.
During a spot inspection at Langpih last week, this scribe found around one hundred electric poles kept at two locations in the disputed area. About 50 electric poles had been kept just outside the Assam Police Outpost at Lower Langpih while another 50 poles were kept four kilometers from the Outpost near Umsohram.
This scribe also found that the electric poles had been erected up to Dronpara, 9 km from Langpih.
As per the status quo agreement signed between the two States earlier, both sides had agreed not to bring in any developmental works in the disputed areas.
However, the Assam government has, time and again, violated the status quo and launched several developmental works in the area, evoking strong protests by the local residents of Langpih.
Last week Headman of Hima Raid Mynsaw, Hindro Samakha, had met the Deputy Commissioner of West Khasi Hills to apprise him of the latest developments and also shot off a complaint letter in this regard.
The Deputy Commissioner assured to look into the matter.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, S Kharlyngdoh, Deputy Commissioner of West Khasi Hills, said that earlier the Assam government had not complained when the Meghalaya Government had electrified some villages in Kampodhuli, a disputed area in Langpih dominated by Garo population.
“With that in view the Assam government perhaps expected that their Meghalaya counterparts would also do likewise by keeping silent on the issue,” Kharlyngdoh added.
Meanwhile, this scribe, during a spot survey in the area, found that Gaipala village in Lower Langpih (on the Assam side) had recently constructed a temple without proper intimation to the Meghalaya Government, in violation of the status quo.
It may be reminded that the Assam government had raised objections when the Khasi residents of Langpih had constructed toilets or sheds for their homes.
