SHILLONG, March 16: Nongkrem MLA, Lambor Malngiang on Wednesday said the recent case where Assam erected pillars along the border with Meghalaya was a breach of trust, especially when both states are close to resolving the dispute in six of the 12 areas.
Raising a call attention, Malngiang said an NGO named Hynniewtrep Achik National Movement (HANM) had recently dumped the boundary pillars in front of the state secretariat and the KHADC office.
“Assam erected the pillars despite the negotiations between the two states. This is tantamount to disrespecting the talks,” he said, wondering if Assam was on the move to capture more areas before the boundary settlement.
Terming Assam’s move as a breach of trust, Malngiang called for raising a Meghalaya regiment to be deployed along the state’s borders and urged the government to take up the matter with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In his response, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the matter came to the notice of the Ri-Bhoi district administration and it was immediately taken up with its Kamrup counterpart in Assam.
He said the DC had informed him that the pillars were erected as the Assam government had conducted a non-cadastral survey under its Mission Basundhara.
“The DC Kamrup clarified that these pillars in no way demarcate the boundary and have nothing to do with the ongoing talks,” the CM said, adding that the Ri-Bhoi DC still requested for removal of these boundary pillars as they would lead to confusion.
He further said Assam removed three pillars while one was uprooted by unknown persons. “They have assured to remove the other pillars by Tuesday,” he added.
Stating that the police have been directed to keep a vigil in the areas, he said the overall situation is largely peaceful.
Informing the House that the matter was also taken up by Meghalaya chief secretary with her counterpart, Sangma said he immediately took up the matter with his Assam counterpart who was not aware of the pillars and said instructions would be given for the removal of the pillars.