By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 18: Senior BJP leader and MLA AL Hek on Monday said the Assam-Meghalaya interstate boundary dispute is being addressed through sustained negotiations between the two state governments, even as he said that the India-Bangladesh border fencing is “the need of the hour” considering growing security concerns.
At a time when the sensitive interstate border issue continues to dominate political discourse in the region, Hek said the Meghalaya government is deliberately avoiding confrontation and instead, pushing for an amicable settlement with Assam.
“There is political pressure from Assam and political pressure from Meghalaya,” he said.
He also said that committees headed by MLAs have been constituted in different districts to examine the ground situation and assist in resolving the long-pending dispute. According to him, the process requires government-level engagement along with detailed field assessments.
“It is not as simple as finding a solution sitting across the table. We have to go to the ground and understand the ground reality. Once you do that, you can solve the problem,” Hek said.
Meanwhile, he said the Bangladesh border fencing is necessary for security reasons. He pointed to the fencing exercise in West Bengal and said similar measures are required in Meghalaya although certain disputes and local complications persist along some stretches.
Hek acknowledged growing concerns over the prolonged closure of border haats with Bangladesh, saying that residents in border areas are facing hardships due to the suspension of cross-border trade activities.
He said the Meghalaya government has repeatedly taken up the matter with the Centre, but noted that reopening the border haats also involves national security considerations which are being examined by the central government.
