Assam govt assures to remove all pillars: CM

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 16, 2022

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma informed that the Assam government has assured to remove all pillars from Umshru village in Ri Bhoi District.

Replying to call attention moved by Nongkrem legislator Lambor Malngiang in the Assembly on Wednesday, Sangma said the matter came to the notice of the deputy commissioner, Ri Bhoi on March 13, who immediately took up the matter with his counterpart in Assam, the deputy commissioner of Kamrup (Rural).

As informed by the DC Kamrup, the government of Assam is doing a cadastral survey for non-cadastral villages in all the districts of Assam. Under this initiative, survey was done in the Assam side near Umshru village of Ri Bhoi district and the pillars erected were based on this initiative.

Further, the DC Kamrup (Rural) clarified that these pillars in no way demarcate the boundary of Assam and Meghalaya and that this exercise has nothing to do with the Meghalaya-Assam boundary resolution, he said.

However, the DC, Ri Bhoi informed the counterpart that this can potentially mislead and create confusion regarding the Assam – Meghalaya border and therefore requested to remove the pillars immediately.

Based on the request, the officials from Assam removed three pillars and also one pillar was removed by some unidentified persons, he said adding that the matter has been taken up by the deputy commissioner Kamrup (Rural) and it has been assured that other pillars located in other areas will also be removed by March 15.

The chief minister also informed that he had also taken up the matter with the Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Meanwhile, the chief minister informed that the police department has taken up measures to prevent any untoward incidents occurring in the areas which include extensive patrolling are conducted in the border area, the officers and personnel of Jirang anti-dacoity camp have been instructed to maintain strict vigilant in the area, sector officers in close coordination with the border magistrate have been instructed to liaison with the counterpart in Assam, response team has been detailed to attend any untoward incidents in the bordering area.

According to him, the overall situation in these areas is largely peaceful and the situation is being closely monitored by the police department and district administration.