Boundary talks after Budget session: Paul

SHILLONG, March 17: The state government on Friday said the interstate boundary talks between Assam and Meghalaya will resume after the budget session of the state Assembly ends.
“As soon as the budget session is over, we should be back to border talks,” minister and government spokesperson, Paul Lyngdoh said.
Reacting to the claim by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma that Mukroh is in Assam, he said: “We have finalised six areas and six more are pending. Anybody can say anything but the thrust of this government is on the ownership of the land and to do that, we need proper documentation.”
Claiming through documents and physical possession of land matters more than rhetoric, he added.
Lyngdoh said the cabinet discussed the issue briefly. “We mentioned the work to be done and the methodology to be adopted on the remaining six areas of difference,” he said.
He said the claims and counterclaims will continue until the borders are settled.
He pointed out that Meghalaya was created under an Act of Parliament, which clearly mentions that the boundaries of Meghalaya are just an interpretation of an existing Act.
“They are temporary according to the State Reorganisation Act, which leaves space for us to redefine the boundaries of the state based on current discussions,” he said.