SHILLONG, June 28: UDP chief adviser, Bindo M Lanong, has informed that he has suggested the state government to engage autonomous district councils (ADCs), the Syiems and Himas to find an acceptable solution to the long-pending inter-state boundary dispute with Assam.
“We are happy that the new BJP Government in Assam led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is keen to resolve this long-pending issue,” Lanong said, after meeting Health Minister AL Hek, along with party general secretary Jemino Mawthoh, here on Monday.
Lanong also expressed happiness after he was informed by Hek that the central government is keen to see that the long pending-issue is amicably ironed out.
Lanong said he had met Hek to seek clarification on the reports that Assam is trying encroach into areas falling under Meghalaya.
“We are seeing reports of how the Assam Police is trying to forcefully set up a police outpost in areas falling under Meghalaya.
There are many similar reports of illegal encroachment on the part of Assam,” Lanong said.
The UDP chief adviser said that according to Hek, the Himanta-led government has showed seriousness to discuss this vexed issue.
Referring to the Chandrachud Committee which was constituted in 1985 to find an amicable solution to demarcate the border between the two states, Lanong said the Committee, in its report, did not make any recommendations to iron out the boundary disputes between the two states.
He said the issue could have been resolved during those days when Congress was in power in Meghalaya, Assam and at the Centre.
“But the Congress never took a serious initiative to resolve this long-pending issue. I totally blame the Congress for its failure to pursue this matter to its logical end,” the UDP chief adviser said.