Regional panel meet discusses Meghalaya-Assam border MoU
From Our Correspondent
Khliehriat, June 7: Deputy Chief Minister, Sniawbhalang Dhar, on Friday informed that out of 37 households in Baikam village, 30 households have expressed the desire to be part of Meghalaya.
Dhar said this while speaking to media persons following a review meeting held in connection with the Assam-Meghalaya boundary Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), specifically regarding the inclusion of Baikam village under East Jaintia Hills.
The meeting was chaired by Dhar in his capacity as Chairman of the Regional Committee on Interstate Border for East Jaintia Hills and was attended by East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner Shivansh Awasthi, Additional Deputy Commissioner JU Kharpuri, Superintendent of Police Giri Prasad, SDO (Sadar) M. Kumar, Additional SP S. Paslein, BDO M. Kyndait, traditional heads from Baikam, Ratacherra, and Malidor villages, along with local residents of Baikam village.
Calling the meeting “positive”, Dhar said it provided an important platform for both the regional committee and villagers to discuss the issue. He added that a final meeting between the deputy commissioners of East Jaintia Hills and Cachar (Assam) will soon be held to deliberate further before a conclusive decision is taken.
The outcome of that meeting, the deputy chief minister said, will be compiled into a report and submitted by the district administration to the state government for further action.
With regard to government schemes, Dhar said that Baikam villagers are currently availing benefits from both Meghalaya and Assam, and a final resolution will help streamline access to welfare schemes and services.
Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner also confirmed that several coordination meetings had already taken place with Assam counterparts, including one with the DC of Cachar, in an effort to bring closure to the long-pending border issue concerning Baikam.
