SHILLONG, March 20: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said in no uncertain terms that Mukroh village falls within the territorial jurisdiction of Meghalaya and it is not a disputed area.
Reacting to the recent claims by his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma that it falls under Assam, Sangma said the Meghalaya government has been very clear from day one that Mukroh is not a disputed area.
Asked what steps the government will have to take for the relocation of the residents from Harijan Colony at Them Iew Mawlong as per the directive of the High Court of Meghalaya, he said the High-Level Committee will do its work and then come to the government.
He also said that the Centre allocated an additional fund of Rs 300 crore from the Capital Investment Fund (CIF) for Meghalaya. “It is a bonus for the state since Meghalaya is among the few states which have already utilised all funds allocated under CIF,” Sangma said.
Stating that the state received around Rs 600 crore at the beginning from the CIF, he said Meghalaya is among the few states that have utilised the funds allocated for 2022-2023.
The CM, who had a meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, said Meghalaya utilized the funds in a very efficient manner, in different projects and schemes.
Sangma recalled that the state government had prepared a “blueprint” for the deployment of 160 companies of CRPF to check illegal mining and transportation of coal but the High Court said 10 companies of CISF should be enough for the purpose.
Asked if the government will appeal in the court to review the order, Sangma said the government is examining the matter and will take a call in a few days.
