Megh, Assam not to allow “small irritants” to affect boundary talks

Shillong, Oct 31: Even as Meghalaya and Assam are trying to resolve the age-old boundary dispute between the two states, both have however agreed that small “irritants” should not be allowed to derail the effort but must not be allowed to escalate into a major problem.

This decision was taken at the Meghalaya and Assam nodal officers meeting held at the Meghalaya state secretariat Wednesday. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Meghalaya Commissioner & Secretary of Home Jopthiaw Lyngdoh who headed the Meghalaya delegation, said, “Many times small “irritants” tend to create a big problem in the inter-state border so we have reached at a consensus that that these small irritants should not be allowed to escalate.”

Apart from the chief secretaries meeting, the mechanism of having the nodal officers’ meeting was decided at the recent meeting of the chief ministers of both the state to resolve the boundary dispute issue between Assam and Meghalaya.

The Assam team was headed by Assam home, political and border secretary GD Tripati accompanied by the deputy commissioners of Kamrup (Metro and Rural), Karbi Anglong district along with Superintendents of Police (SPs).

Both the states also reached a consensus in sharing of “information” to bridge the communication gap while addressing the issue relating to inter-state boundary disputes. The meeting also discussed other issues besides militancy.

Lyngdoh said,  “Sharing of information is one of most important issues taken up to ensure that whatever information from the top reaches the field level”   He  also informed on the agreement to explore the possibility to expand the ambit of the nodal officers by inviting the other line departments including PWDs and health in the next sitting.

Issue of Assam-based militant outfits taking advantage of border by indulging in illegal collection from the Khasi-Pnar villagers with special reference to the case of Sabuda, Mawlasnai, Umlaper areas in Block II was discussed.  Lyngdoh said, “Assam has agreed that issue of militancy whether from Meghalaya or Assam should not be tolerated in order to bring peace in the in the borders.”

 Both the states have also agreed that developmental activities including implementation of the RTE Act and health should be allowed in the border after prior consultation with concerned authorities from both the sides.

 Regarding to the proposed construction of dam by Assam on Wahkri in West Khasi hills district of Meghalaya said the officers from Assam claimed that they were not aware on such proposed construction of the dam. He, however, informed that it was agreed in principal that no development activities should take place without mutual consultation. – By Our Reporter