‘Busy’ Assam fails to give date for border talks

SHILLONG: A ‘busy’ Assam has failed to give any date for holding the pending chief secretary level border talks.
Earlier on September 11, the Meghalaya government had proposed any day between September 19 and 22 for the meeting between Assam and Meghalaya in Shillong to discuss the pending border issues.
An official source said on Monday that since Assam was busy, it could not confirm any date.
He said Assam was yet to officially write to Meghalaya regarding the matter.
The chief secretaries of both the states were asked to pursue the border dispute following the chief ministerial level meeting held in the past.
On April 1 this year, during the chief ministerial level talks held in Guwahati, the chief secretaries of both the states were asked to further carry on with the dialogue.
Later, it was first the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya Y. Tsering, who had written to his Assam counterpart to fix a date for holding border talks.
Following this, Assam had written to Meghalaya to suggest a date for the talks and subsequently, the state government proposed any date from September 19 to 22.
However, Assam is yet to fix any fresh date though Meghalaya was keen to hold the talks.
Earlier, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma had said that Assam should show maturity and commitment in addressing the border dispute.
The dispute had figured in Assam Legislative Assembly recently with the neighbouring state alleging that Meghalaya was encroaching into the disputed Langpih area, which, however, is being claimed by Meghalaya.
In the past border level meetings, Meghalaya had referred to the documents submitted to Assam regarding the 12 areas of difference.
To substantiate its claim, Meghalaya had submitted documents and maps on the 12 areas of difference – Upper Tarabari, Gizang Reserve Forest, Hahim, Langpih, Borduar, Boklapara, Nongwah-Matamur, Khanapara-Pillangkata, Desdemoreah,Block I and Block II, Khanduli-Psiar and Ratacherra.