Mukul submits memorandum to Rajnath
Shillong: The State government has urged the Centre to constitute a boundary commission and evolve an institutionalized mechanism to resolve the vexed boundary dispute with Assam.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma placed this demand before Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who arrived here on a two-day visit to attend the 181st Raising Day of Assam Rifles on Monday.
The Union Home Minister was informed that bilateral efforts have failed to bring about a mutually acceptable solution.
The Chief Minister, accompanied by State Home Minister Roshan Warjri, submitted a memorandum to the Union Home Minister seeking his intervention on several issues.
Besides boundary dispute with Assam, insurgency in Garo Hills region and strengthening of police set up, sanctioning of additional IR battalions, requirement of additional forces for implementing NGT order, creation of SF-10 and setting up of residential schools in the border areas are some of the issues mentioned in the memorandum.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister apprised the Union Home Minister that due to the lack of adequate forces, the state government has not been able to check effectively violation of NGT ban on mining of coal and its transportation.
Although the State Government had requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to provide additional 15 companies of para-military forces to effectively enforce the ban, the same has not been provided yet, the memorandum said.
In order to contain the menace of insurgency in Garo Hills region, the Union Home Minister was reminded of a proposal for upgradation of police establishment and infrastructure submitted to the Special Secretary (IS), Union Ministry of Home Affairs in 2012 and that the Ministry had sought an undertaking from the State Government to the effect that the recurring expenditure would be borne by the State from its own resources after the completion of the scheme.
The Union Home Minister was also reminded about the proposal submitted ( to the Ministry for extending a one-time assistance for creation of a specialized commando force SF-10. Informing that the first phase of recruitment process has been completed, the State urged upon the Ministry to consider the proposal on a priority basis so that the unit can be made operational without delay.