Assam, Meghalaya ministers visit border areas in West Khasi Hills

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 4, 2021

For the first time, the Assam and Meghalaya ministers together visited inter state border areas under Boko revenue circle and West Khasi Hills district on Monday. As from today, local people of the border areas think that the long pending inter state border problem between Meghlaya and Assam will be finished very soon.

Atul Bora, Minister of Agriculture, Border Protection & Development, Assam led a team and Meghalaya Cabinet Minister of PHED Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar led a team today visited the inter state disputed places under Boko Constituency and West Khasi Hills. On Monday morning, both Meghalaya and Assam teams first visited Hahim and nearby Athiabari, Aradonga areas. It may be mentioned that the Joint team failed to enter an area that falls under Athiabari village. Where someone put huge stones and betelnut trees on the road at the entry point of the village. After that the joint team visited Salbari, Malchapara, Gamerimura, Gohanimara and Gizang areas.

During the visits, the joint team has been sat at Hahim, Salbari, Malchapara, Gamerimura and Gohanimara with local organisations and the public. Local people and local organisations i.e. All Rabha Students’ Union (ARSU), Garo Students’ Union (GSU), Rabha Women Council and Garo Women Council highly felicitated the Assam & Meghalaya teams with Gamucha, Japi, Pajar, Gando Makhal, Khotip (Garo traditional headgear) and many other traditional items. 

Assam Minister Atul Bora said that Assam CM Dr. Himanta Biswa Sharma led Assam Government has taken strong steps to resolve long awaited inter-state border disputes with neighbouring states. Regional Committees were formed after CM held talks with his Meghalaya counterpart to find lasting solutions in this regard recently. He also added that they speak with the local public, village heads and local organisations about their problems and suggestions to solve the disputed border issues. After completing the survey which is now an ongoing process will be filed to the both state CMs. After that, the long pending inter state disputed problems will be solved amicably and peacefully.

Meghalaya Minister Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar said that the Meghalaya team visited the disputed areas for the first time with the Assam counterpart. The motive of the visit was to see the ground reality in the areas. He also clarified that from today’s visit, no decision will be taken but the joint team will submit their findings to the both state’s CMs. He added that Meghalaya  state government also wants lasting solutions that have been consistent from so many years. Both Chief Ministers and the government will solve the problem very soon.  

Meghalaya state’s MLAs Gigur Myrthong, Mawsynrut constituency, Kimfa Sidney Marbaniang from Rambrai Jyrngam constituency, West Khasi Hills District DC Timberland Lyngwa, SP H. G. Lyndoh and other officials were present in the joint team. On the other hand, Assam’s Kamrup district DC Kailash Kartik N., SP Hitesh Ch. Roy, Ex MLA of Boko Constituency Jyoti Prasad Das and other officials were present in the joint visit. 

The joint team later visited the Jirang area under Palashbari constituency on Monday. 

It may be mentioned that a meeting of the Regional Committee, formed following the CM level meeting between Assam & Meghalaya to find an amicable solution to long pending border issues, was held in Guwahati last Sunday.