Govt high on hope for other six disputed sites

SHILLONG, Dec 15: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday exuded confidence that the talks for resolving the other six disputed areas between Assam and Meghalaya would begin next year.
Both state governments are currently trying to resolve six “less complicated” disputed areas in the first phase.
To resolve the dispute, both the states constituted regional committees and two of the three regional committees of Meghalaya have submitted their reports to the government after visiting ground zero over the last three months.
“I think in the next phase, most likely next year, we can take up the other six areas after the first six areas are resolved,” Tynsong said.
The six areas of differences to be resolved in the first phase are Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pilangkata and Ratacherra falling under the West Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi and East Jaintia Hills districts in Meghalaya and Cachar, Kamrup (Metropolitan) and Kamrup districts in Assam.
The Meghalaya government on Wednesday held several meetings with the ADCs, traditional heads, political parties and pressure groups to take their views on the dispute.
“We will examine the views and submissions of the stakeholders,” Tynsong said.
During the meeting, most of the stakeholders said the Meghalaya government should move forward according to the documents available.
To date, the regional committees of the West Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts have submitted their reports while the Jaintia Hills committee is likely to submit its report next week.
Once all the reports are submitted, the chief ministers of the two states will sit down and discuss the boundary dispute, Tynsong said.
The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), not a part of the consultative meeting with the state government on the six identified areas of dispute in the first phase, said it is keenly following the development on the interstate border.
Neither the AITC nor the Congress attended the consultative meeting with the state government on Wednesday, although it was tagged an all-party event.
“We are firm that any solution should revolve around the interest of the people living along the interstate border,” AITC parliamentary party leader Mukul M. Sangma said.
Any formula for resolving the boundary dispute, he added, should be acceptable to the people referred to as the stakeholders.