SHILLONG, March 8: UDP legislator from Mookaiaw, Nujorki Sungoh on Tuesday moved a call attention motion on the problems faced by residents of Block-I area under dispute with Assam and requested the chief minister to relieve them of the misery they have been facing for over 70 years.
Sungoh said that the area has been neglected by successive central governments, Assam and to an extent, Meghalaya.
Stating that since April 13, 1951, the residents have been subjected to undue harassment by government officials of Assam and militants alike, Sungoh said, “They have been extorted and deprived of their rights and properties, young girls have been subjected to untold horrors, they have been arrested for no crime, they have been forced to pay taxes on land, house and domestic animals, they are deprived of drinking water, healthcare, education, road connectivity and electricity.”
He said that in September 2020, Assam police personnel encroached into Moolabar village and indiscriminately fired more than forty rounds in the air, in a bid to terrorize the villagers.
He recalled another incident on January 7, 2022, when a youth had ventured out to collect firewood and was arrested by Assam police. He was finally released after the West Jaintia Hills District administration stepped in.
Speaking about the dismal health facilities, Sungoh said the nearest health centre at Psiar was over 20 km and had limited facilities.
“I pray that our government sets up a PHC at Moolabar or upgrades the Psiar sub-centre into a full-fledged PHC. This will go a long way in giving relief to our neglected people,” the UDP MLA said.
In his reply, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said that the dispute in Block-I area will be taken up in the second phase along with the remaining five areas of difference.
Admitting to challenges being faced by residents of Block-I, the CM said, “While issues of border dispute as well as the law-and-order situation have prevailed, some developmental aspects have also come up.”
Sangma said issues concerning development works in border areas are normally discussed and resolved with the DCs or the SPs during the border coordination committee meetings held from time to time. He also recalled that the West Jaintia Hills and West Karbi Anglong DCs had held a meeting on August 6 last year and a series of issues were taken up.
Highlighting the decisions taken during the meeting on August 6, the CM said both sides agreed to maintain status quo on the already completed construction activities and the need to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas.
The chief minister said that the state Chief Secretary has written to her counterpart in Assam to intervene and issue necessary instructions to district officials not to hinder developmental works initiated by Meghalaya for the benefit of the residents of the disputed areas. “It was also agreed that central government schemes should be allowed to be implemented for the benefit of the people,” he added.
Speaking on the safety concern, Sangma said the concerned DC has been taking up matters with his counterpart in Assam by protesting against construction activities taken up by the Assam government in the disputed areas and in order to instill confidence in the minds of the villagers living along the interstate border with Assam, Meghalaya Police have intensified patrolling in the areas of dispute.
He also said that magistrates and police were taking prompt action on any report having a bearing on law and order in the areas. The West Jaintia Hills Police has been closely monitoring the developments in the border areas and are in constant contact with their counterparts in Assam, he added.
Asserting that the two states were very close to resolving the disputes in six areas in the first phase, the CM said that once the settlement is finalised it will set the precedence and principles of the second phase of discussion.
The chief minister further assured the UDP MLA that his concern over connectivity and health infrastructure will be examined by the government.