State to place boundary panel demand with Assam

SHILLONG: The State government will tell Assam about the need to set up a boundary commission to solve the pending border dispute.
Besides discussion on the 12 areas of difference, another proposal of the Meghalaya government during the scheduled meeting with Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on April 3 is to form the boundary commission, Chief Secretary K.S Kropha said on Wednesday.
Earlier in March 2011, the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly had passed a resolution to urge the Centre to institute the commission for redefining the inter-state boundary.
However, in the same year, the Assam Assembly passed another resolution opposing any move to form a boundary commission, thereby defeating the very purpose of forming the commission by Meghalaya.
The chief secretary said during the proposed meeting at Dispur on Monday, a request     will be made to the Assam government to agree to the formation of the boundary commission so that both Assam and Meghalaya can jointly move the Centre for the constitution of the panel.
Sources said earlier, the State government had approached the Ministry of Home Affairs to prevail on the Assam government to agree to Meghalaya’s proposal in order to find a lasting solution to the long-pending issue.
The Centre wanted both Assam and Meghalaya to amicably settle the border dispute.