TURA: The A’chik Indigenous Justice Initiative Forum (AIJIF), an organisation from North Garo Hills has sought the intervention of Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh on the issue of boundary dispute with neighbouring Assam.
“In an instance of major encroachment of Meghalaya’s land by Assam, it can be stated that Jinjiram, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River formed the natural boundary between Meghalaya’s Garo Hills and Assam. But the changing of the river’s course towards south (into Meghalaya) over the years has led to encroachers from Assam side to cultivate and settle in Meghalaya’s land,” the AIJIF said in its letter to the Minister.
Quoting residents of affected areas the forum said that since the formation of the State of Meghalaya Rongsai bazaar bridge, Sampang Pahar , Mangnakopa, Sildubi and Jolsimina served as the boundary between Assam and Meghalaya , but in recent times encroachments into a few kilometers inside this boundary in Meghalaya have been carried out by people of Assam.
The forum said that as per the survey being conducted by Assam for the setting up of the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC), certain areas of Garo Hills including Pedaldoba, Rongsai, Bolsaldamgre, Balbalgre, Kongrapara, Upper Kongra, Thakurbilla and the Forest beat office of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) in Rongsai under West Garo Hills and Fakirmara under North Garo Hills will fall under the purview of the RHAC.
“Telegraphic boundary pillars constructed in the 1920s was the actual boundary which were raised in, Rongsai bazaar bridge, Sampang Pahar, Mangnakopa, Sildubi and Jolsimina areas, but those pillars are not visible now. The drifting of the river has created confusion over the actual boundary. The old course is now free land on the Assam side whereas it has swallowed portions from what used to be Meghalaya land,” it said.
Stating that the ongoing boundary dispute at several affected villages was causing tension among people on both sides of the border, the forum urged both the centre and the state governments to take steps to address the problem.
