Assam Cabinet approves recommendations of border panels in 6 areas

Guwahati, Jan 19: The Assam Cabinet on Wednesday approved the recommendations of the three regional committees in regard to resolution of the Assam-Meghalaya border row in six “less complicated” areas.

Briefing mediapersons after the Cabinet meeting in Haflong (Dima Hasao district), the third such meeting held outside Dispur since the new government took charge in May last year, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Cabinet approved the recommendations of the committees on the six areas of differences between the two states after a detailed presentation made by the chairpersons of the panels.

“The Assam-Meghalaya border row resolution was a key issue discussed at the Cabinet today. The Cabinet heard the statements of chairpersons of the three regional committees, and based on the resolutions of yesterday’s meeting with political parties, students groups, civil society organisations and representatives from the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council, approved the recommendations of the panels,” Sarma said.

Now, the chief ministers of the neighbouring states will meet Union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Thursday evening.

“Tomorrow, Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma and I will apprise Union home minister Amit Shah about the recommendations of the respective regional committees and would request the Centre to take a decision (for final settlement) under the purview of the Constitution of India,” the chief minister said.

The Meghalaya Cabinet had on Tuesday approved the recommendations of the three regional committees set up by the state government on the boundary row.

“The Assam chief Minister and I will submit the reports to the Union home minister in Delhi on Thursday evening. We will be submitting more or less a common report. The government will then move according to the laws,” Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma had informed reporters after chairing the Cabinet meeting in Shillong.

“The boundary demarcation will be done after the due procedure in Parliament. The Survey of India will have to come in and joint inspections may have to be done and the Bill has to be passed,” Sangma said.