Reports of M’laya villages planning to merge with Assam
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Government has directed the deputy commissioners of the various districts to ascertain whether some villages along the inter-state border between Meghalaya and Assam have expressed their desire to become part and parcel of Assam.
“We have asked for this inquiry to know the ground reality if the villages which are under Meghalaya are really keen to merge with Assam,” Revenue and Disaster Management Minister RC Laloo told reporters on Wednesday.
Replying to a query, he admitted that it was matter of concern for the State Government if such reports were really true.
“We needs to take some immediate steps to find out the various problems faced by the people of these villages who are desirous of merging with Assam due to negligence on the part of the State Government,” Prof Laloo said.
It was recently reported that frustrated over the apathy and neglect by the State Government, six villages in West Khasi Hills district, located along the volatile Meghalaya-Assam border have decided to merge with Assam, which they see as their real benefactor.
The six villages – Sawlad, Nongrilong, Umsha, Umsohiong, Patharsipiah and Bilkolang – consisting of about 180 households have indicated their intention to merge with Assam after suffering from utter neglect for the past 39 years of statehood.
Besides these six villages, people of Barigang village in Kyrshai area of West Khasi Hills district have already enrolled themselves with Assam in the recent Census.
When asked if the Government would wait to address the problem faced by villagers till it snowballed into another Langpih-like situation, Prof Laloo said the Government would not allow a similar situation to evolve in these villages.
“We need to understand that the Government is building a very strong case to claim the ownership of the various areas which are under adverse possession of Assam. We are committed to getting back our land,” Laloo said, adding, “Anything which belongs to us should remain with us.”
