Govt blames Assam for delay in border talks

SHILLONG, Dec 20: The state government on Friday said the Assam government’s response regarding the initiation of talks for the resolution of boundary disputes in the second phase has been discouraging.
“This sentiment was also conveyed to our counterpart in Assam. The DC of West Khasi Hills has taken up (the matter) with the DC of Kamrup. I have also taken it up with the chairman, Chandra Mohan Patowary,” said Cabinet Minister Paul Lyngdoh who is the chairman of the West Khasi Hills regional committee.
The statement from him comes at a time when citizens as well as political leaders are demanding the commencement of talks to resolve the problem in the remaining six areas. The talks are delayed by nearly two years now.
“The response has not been encouraging so far but we would like the conversation to continue. Hopefully, we should be able to do that soon,” Lyngdoh said.
Earlier, the two governments had signed an agreement to resolve their 50-year-old border disputes in six of the 12 areas. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had then described it as a “historic day” for the Northeast.
The two states had agreed to address the disputes in a phase-wise manner.
In the first phase, the disputes were resolved in Gizang, Tarabari, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pilangkata, Ratacherra,  and Hahim, considered less sensitive, in March last year.
According to the agreement, Assam would retain 18.51 sq km of the total 36.79 sq km of disputed land in these areas.
The disputes in the second phase will be resolved in Langpih, Borduar, Deshdoomreah, Block I-II, Psiar-Khanduli, and Nongwah-Mawtamur (Garbhanga).