NONGPOH: The quarrel between neighbours has gone to such an extent that it is not even possible for Assam to erect a welcome arch within the territory of Meghalaya.
On Friday, the North Khasi Hills District unit of Khasi Students Union pulled down a signboard saying ‘Welcome to Guwahati’ that had been erected at 9 Mile under NH 40 in Ri-Bhoi district. KSU members were strongly opposed to the signboard being set up within the jurisdiction of Meghalaya. It seemed that the signboard had been sponsored by Bank of Baroda from Guwahati as on the signboard was mentioned ‘Bank of Baroda.’
“We have seen that most of the Meghalaya land in the border area has been illegally encroached by Assam by recourse to various ways and means like erection of signboards and developmental works. However, KSU has strongly opposed the erection of any signboard in the jurisdiction of Meghalaya which is an indirect land encroachment” General Secretary of KSU, North Khasi Hills District, Vincent Makri told newsmen.
He said the Syiem of Raid Marwet Ken Syiem had given the no objection certificated to Bank of Baroda from Guwahati without going through a proper verification over the wording written in the signboard.
“KSU has strongly demanded that the Syiem of Raid Marwet cancel the no objection certificate that was given to the Bank of Baroda for erection of the signboard. Otherwise, KSU will not hesitate to vandalize if the signboard of the Bank is re-installed within the jurisdiction of Meghalaya” he said.
“KSU will not part with even one inch of land to Assam as erection of signboard and other developmental works done by the Assam in the border area is an indirect land encroachment” Makri said. KSU would keep on alerting about illegal intrusion of land in the border areas, he said, and urged the Syiem of Raid Marwet to protect Meghalaya’s own land in the border area.
