Meghalaya Govt asks border panels to submit report within 45 days

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 24, 2023

The state government has reconstituted the three Regional Committees to examine the present status of the remaining six areas of differences and submit their reports within 45 days.

These include – Langpih in West Khasi Hills District; Borduar, Nongwah-Mawtamur, Deshdoomreah, Block-II in Ri Bhoi District; Block- I, Psiar – Khanduli in West Jaintia Hills District.

This was informed by the Chief Secretary DP Wahlang on Friday.

The two deputy chief ministers – Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar – will head the regional committees for Ri Bhoi District and West Jaintia Hills District respectively while cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh will be the chairman of the regional committee for West Khasi Hills District.

The members of the Ri Bhoi committee include Sosthenes Sohtun, MLA Jirang, Government Chief Whip, Mayralborn Syiem, MLA Nongpoh Constituency, Damanbait Lamare, MLA Umroi Constituency, Charles Marngar, MLA Mawhati Constituency, Jambor War, Executive Member KHADC (Elaka) and Deputy Commissioner, Ri Bhoi District as a Member Convenor.

For West Khasi Hills, RL Tongkhar, MLA Mawkyrwat Constituency, Methodious Dkhar, MLA Mawshynrut Constituency, Remington Gabil Momin, MLA Rambrai-Jyrngam Constituency, Gigur Myrthong, Deputy CEM, KHADC, Bajop Pyngrope, MDC, Rambrai-Jyrngam KHADC will be the members and Deputy Commissioner, West Khasi Hills District as a Member Convenor.

The members of the committee for West Jaintia Hills are Comingone Ymbon, Minister Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, etc, Lahkmen Rymbui, MLA Amlarem Constituency, Nujorki Sungoh, MLA Mowkaiaw Constituency, Thombor Shiwat, CEM, JHADC, Aiborlang Shadap, MDC, Barato-Mukroh, JHADC and Deputy Commissioner West Jaintia Hills District as a Member Convenor.

The terms of reference of the Regional Committee is to coordinate with the relevant Regional Committee set up by the Government of Assam, to cross-reference and verify the names of the villages (sub-villages) claimed by Meghalaya with the names of villages as per records of Government of Assam, to establish the geographical location of the villages and their contiguity.

They are to examine the status of population of villages as per census records including ethnicity and to prepare an ‘As-Is’ Public Asset Register in the villages, created by both the State Governments. To visit each of the villages and interact with the communities living in the villages including the elected representatives of the Autonomous District Councils and other stakeholders to learn about the perception of the people living in the area and to document the factual information regarding the physical and time-wise distances from the villages to the nearest public service delivery point/administrative unit. The Committee can co-opt any member whenever necessary.

In terms of logistics and secretarial support, the jurisdictional Deputy Commissioners will provide all the secretarial and logistic support for effective functioning of the Committees and the Member Convenor of the respective Committee should fix the date of visit and discussion in consultation with their respective counterpart in Assam.

With regards to the report of the Committee, the Committees will submit the report to the Government of Meghalaya within a period of 45 days from the date of this notification based on the inspection of the villages and based on the agreed yardsticks of historical perspective, ethnicity of the local population, administrative convenience of local people, contiguity with the boundary and the perception of the people living in the area.