By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The inter-state border row between Meghalaya and Assam has taken yet another turn with the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) stepping in to claim ‘ownership’ of 15 villages including Sabuda in Block-II and terming encroachment of the Assam government into these areas as ‘illegal’.
The KHADC will send a letter of protest to the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council seeking his cooperation to ensure that an amicable solution is arrived at internally by the two tribal autonomous councils.
“We will send a letter of protest to our tribal council counterpart in Assam to ensure that all these encroachment activities are stopped immediately,” KHADC CEM PN Syiem said on Friday, while adding that they will seek a reply within one week.
The KHADC took up the matter based on the complaint filed by NGOs on the recent incidents of Assam government’s alleged encroachment in the Block-II and the decision was unanimously taken after a meeting held with the Syiem of Raid Nongtung and president of the Synjuk ki Rangbah Shnong under Raid Nongtung.
Protesting against the alleged encroachment by the Assam government in Meghalaya, the CEM said that as per the documents these areas fall under the jurisdiction of the KHADC.
Referring to the notification issued by the Assam Governor in 1951 and the North East Area Re-organization Act, 1971, Syiem said it is clear that the 15 villages which includes Madan Umwan, Sabuda, Umthlih, Khlieh Umwan, Jatalong, Umlaper, Ummat, Diengthlih, Umsder, Umru, Umjktait, Utpateng, Umii and Umsohlaper falls under the jurisdiction of the KHADC.
“It is wrong to say that these villages fall under the disputed areas of Block-I and Block-II as they fall outside the jurisdiction of the notification issued by the Assam Governor in 1951”, Syiem said, while adding that it was the duty of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council to stop all the illegal construction in Block-II.
When asked whether the matter will be taken with the State Government, Syiem said, “This is an internal affair of the two tribal autonomous councils and we will try to resolve the matter on our own and if our efforts bear no fruits we will have to take other steps to ensure that people living in these areas are not harassed.”
