Conrad asserted of several initiatives to mitigate the suffering of Pnar people in Block-I
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday assured that issues related to the Block-I area will be taken up in the second phase of Assam-Meghalaya border talks for resolving the remaining six areas of difference.
“With regard to the desire of the people of the Block-1 area to be with Meghalaya, the same will be taken up in talks in the 2nd Phase of the remaining 6 (six) areas of difference with the Government of Assam,” Sangma said in his reply to a call attention moved by UDP legislator from Mookaiaw Nujorki Sungoh in the Assembly.
Sangma said that keeping in view of the border talks at the Chief Minister level, it is desirable to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas.
He informed that the issues on developmental works in the border areas are discussed and resolved in the Deputy Commissioners/ Superintendents of Police Border Coordination Committee Meetings held from time to time with the counterpart DCs and SPs from Assam.
The Deputy Commissioner, West Jaintia Hills District had a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner, West Karbi Anglong District on August 6, 2021 where both sides agreed to maintain status quo on already completed developmental construction.
Regarding law and order issues, both sides will undertake close coordination to maintain peace and tranquility in and around the border areas and any developmental works shall be informed beforehand by both the counterparts, he said.
With regard to the developmental works of Meghalaya which are being obstructed to by the Government of Assam officials, Sangma said that the Chief Secretary has written to her counterpart in Assam to intervene and issue necessary instructions not to hinder the developmental works that are meant for the benefit of the residents of the disputed areas along the inter-state border.
“It was agreed by both the state governments that central government schemes should be allowed to be implemented for the benefit of the people of the inter-state border areas.
In so far as the safety of the people living in the areas bordering Assam under Jaintia Hills is concerned, the CM said the concerned Deputy Commissioner has been taking up matters with his counterpart in Assam by protesting various developmental/ construction activities taken up by the Assam Government in the disputed areas.
He further informed that in order to instill confidence in the minds of the villagers living along the inter-state border with Assam, Meghalaya Police have intensified mobile and foot patrolling especially in the areas of dispute.
Magistrates and Police are promptly taking action on all incidents having a bearing on law and order in the areas. The District Police of West Jaintia Hills have been closely monitoring the developments in the border areas and are in constant contact with their counterparts in Assam, he added.
Earlier, Sungoh said that 71 years of pain while keeping the struggling alive, the people residing in Block I still yearn for the day when they will be one with Meghalaya.
“The sorrow, pain and untold hardships that they have faced and still facing till now cannot be described by me. Since April 13, 1951, they have been subjected to undue harassment by government officials of Assam and militants alike. They have been extorted and deprived of their rights and properties, young girls have been subjected to untold horrors, they have been arrested for no crime, they have been forced to pay taxes on land, house and domestic animals that they rear, they are deprived of drinking water, healthcare, education, road connectivity and electricity,” he said
The MLA further urged the government to pursue this matter as early as possible in order to free the people from untold miseries that they have been facing for 71 long years.
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