SHILLONG, Dec 15: The state government on Wednesday held the first consultative meeting for resolving the interstate boundary dispute in six of the 12 identified areas with members of the political parties, Autonomous District Council (ADC) and pressure groups.
Suggestions and recommendations were sought from all the stakeholders during the meeting.
These included ensuring peace and security along the boundary, weighing the views of the traditional heads, considering the give-and-take policy, including all Khasi and Garo villages and various Raids and Himas in Meghalaya.
Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council chief Titosstarwell Chyne said: “This is the first such meeting, and in this report, we have submitted all the views and recommendations of the KHADC besides the maps of the disputed areas given by the Himas.”
Citing Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong’s statement, he said the government will not compromise on its territory.
The general secretary of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Donald Thabah said, “We took the stand that the government should consult all the traditional heads and the residents of the border areas.”
The KSU suggested that the Meghalaya government should first analyse why the state was created on the basis of language and customary traditions before taking a decision.
He said the very concept of a hill state would be undermined if none of the Khasi or Garo villages are included in Meghalaya during the talks. “If a Khasi village goes to Assam, the people there will lose their scheduled tribe status,” he warned.
Thabah felt the give-and-take policy would not work out as Assam has been encroaching upon Meghalaya’s territory.
HYC president Robert June Kharjahrin said the state government should let the people know which villages would be included in or excluded from Meghalaya before finalising things. He also said the state government should first discuss the recommendations of the boundary panels in the Assembly.
“We would like to see both the state governments try to resolve the other six areas of differences such as Langpih, Block 1 and Block 2,” he said.
Pointing out that the Assam police have been threatening some border residents for opting to be a part of Meghalaya, Kharjahrin said: “We want peace and tranquillity along the border and any encroachment bid from Assam should be checked.”
FKJGP general secretary Dundee C Khongsit said the border village leaders have been facing land registration issues. There is a need for the local administration to reach the villagers and not wait for them to come to the office for land-related work, he added.
HNYF president Sadon Blah insisted on proper consultations with all stakeholders before the government takes the final call on settling the boundary dispute. “We must stick to the traditional boundaries,” he said.
JSU general secretary Treibor Raul Suchen said including the local traditional heads was crucial for resolving the boundary dispute. The HANM had similar suggestions.
All political parties barring the All India Trinamool Congress and Congress attended the consultative meeting.
HSPDP chief KP Malngiang advocated the status quo along the interstate boundary for maintaining peace but raised concern over the reported patrolling by the police of both states in the disputed areas.
State BJP chief, Ernest Mawrie said, “We appreciate the move to resolve this long-pending issue and we hope it is done before we celebrate 50 years of statehood.”
UDP general secretary, Jemino Mawthoh said, “Efforts has been made in the past but this time I think some concrete decision will be taken by the two governments.”
