SHILLONG, Sep 28: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday said the second phase of the interstate boundary talks will likely begin after the Durga Puja holidays.
He insisted that the priority of the state government is on holding a meeting of the state regional committees first, doing the homework and holding consultations with all the stakeholders before the date of joint inspection with the Assam team is fixed.
“All three state regional committees will fix a date to call the district councils, Syiems and Rangbah Shnongs concerned to discuss the disputed areas in their respective places,” he said.
Countering the allegations that many stakeholders were not involved in the discussions in the first phase, he said, “It is not true. We held many meetings before we fixed the joint inspection or met the regional committees of Assam.”
On not including KHADC Chief Executive Member Titosstarwell Chyne in the regional committee, Tynsong said, “Problem is, we have two regional committees within the jurisdiction of the Khasi Hills district council – one in West Khasi Hills and the other in Ri-Bhoi district. So, we accommodated the Elaka EM and the Deputy CEM concerned.”
Reacting to reports of border skirmishes or face-offs in some areas, he said these have been happening all along. But since the formation of the regional committees, the chief ministers of both the states have given clear-cut instructions to the district administrations that there should be no such instances.
Any conflict must be taken up at the deputy commissioners’ level immediately, he added.
Tynsong said the second phase of talks will be based on the same formula as the first with stress on the willingness of the locals to be on either side of the boundary.
The state regional committees have been given 45 days to complete the task at the state level first, but the time can be stretched, he said.
On the demand for Block 1 and Block II to be in Meghalaya, Tynsong said both state governments will ensure people are not made to stay on one side of the boundary against their wishes. But he claimed some people from Jaintia Hills and Ri-Bhoi want to with Meghalaya.
Admitting that the second phase of talks has its own set of challenges, he said, “We are very positive about resolving the second phase after settling the first phase.”
Ri-Bhoi committee expanded
Meanwhile the Home (Political) department on Wednesday issued a notification co-opting Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun and KHADC MDC Victor Ranee as members of the regional committee constituted for Ri-Bhoi district.