Shillong, Mar 28: The Assam government has reaffirmed its commitment to resolve the inter-state boundary dispute with Meghalaya in the remaining six areas in the second phase.
Speaking to reporters here, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that out of the six pending areas of dispute, three areas can be resolved any time. As Meghalaya wants to resolve disputes related to all the six areas simultaneously, so both the governments are working on it. He also refused to give out any time frame stating that the boundary dispute solving process involves sentiments of the people and hence while it is important to resolve it sooner than later it is not appropriate to set a time frame.
The Assam CM also pitched for a collaborative and sustained crackdown on drugs by all States. Highlighting how the modus operandi of drug traffickers involves innovative and technological approach, he said if all the State governments keep on collectively doing what it is doing to fight the menace the war will be won.
He also cited how drug menace is not confined to a few states and has become a worldwide concern. He also clarified the notion that the kingpins are not arrested by stating that most of the kingpins operate from across the international border and only use local agents in the region to traffic drugs.
The Assam CM extended full support to Meghalaya’s efforts to ensure that the air pollution levels at Byrnihat comes down. He said that the problem is a shared responsibility as Byrnihat belongs to both the State and further assured all cooperation from Assam in this regard.
Recently the air pollution indexes of various agencies had portrayed the air quality of Byrnihat in grim light evoking concerns and also criticism from various quarters.