From Our Correspondent
JOWAI: In a clear violation of the status quo agreed upon by the Meghalaya and Assam governments with regards to disputed territories along the inter-state border, the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) is all set to electrify many Meghalaya villages under the disputed Block-I area.
Sources informed that the ASEB has brought hundreds of electric poles to Moolber village and some of them have already been erected right from Mookhoilum village up to Moolber village.
Pnar people residing in Block-I have strongly opposed the proposed electrification work and have decided to send a delegation to meet the West Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner.
“Allowing the ASEB to undertake any electrification process would only indicate that our villages fall in Assam,” a source said, adding that Pnars residing in the area are against any project undertaken by the Assam government.
KSU general secretary (Jaintia Hills), Streamly S Niangti, said, “Both the ASEB and Assam PWD have violated the status quo by trespassing and encroaching in village belonging to Meghalaya in the name of developmental activities.”
“Assam can take up developmental activities in the disputed area only after notifying the Meghalaya Government,” Niangti added.
Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner, Peter S Dkhar informed that he was unaware of the ASEB’s activities since no one had informed him of the developments.
It may be mentioned that in February 2011, the Assam PWD had constructed an RCC bridge across the river Wyrjiang despite strong opposition from the NGOs and the Pnars residing in the area.
