Shillong, July 6: Meghalaya is awaiting formal communication from the Assam government on the reconstitution of its regional committee before a fresh round of border talks between the two states can be scheduled, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said on Monday.
Dhar, who heads Meghalaya’s regional committee for West Jaintia Hills, said he has only received informal information regarding the development from Assam. “We have heard they (Assam) have reconstituted its regional committee, but we are yet to receive official communication. Once we do, the matter will be discussed at the level of both Chief Ministers to decide when we should meet,” he told reporters.
The Deputy Chief Minister also said the report on villages under Block I, prepared by the Deputy Commissioner of West Jaintia Hills, has not yet been submitted to the state government. “The report is yet to be received from the DC. It may be ready at the district level, but it has not been submitted. We are also waiting for communication from the Assam committee,” he said.
According to Dhar, once the district report and Assam’s official communication are received, the findings will be placed before Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, following which the regional committees are expected to meet.
He declined to specify the number of villages covered under the Block I report, saying the government would rely on the official document once it is submitted. ” I cannot say whether it is 50, 30 or 40. We will go by what is stated in the report submitted. We are yet to receive it,” he said.
On the possibility of a joint inspection of the disputed villages, Dhar said the decision would be taken jointly by the Chief Ministers of Meghalaya and Assam after the regional committees meet. “We will take a call on whether a joint inspection is required once the committees decide. Let both Chief Ministers decide on that,” he said.
He informed that Meghalaya’s report is almost ready and will soon be submitted to the Chief Minister’s Office, but stressed that further progress depends on official communication from Assam.
Dhar said the regional committees would decide the appropriate mechanism for resolving the remaining six areas of difference, including whether through retransfer of areas, dialogue, or mutually agreed adjustments. “That will be decided by the committee — whether there will be a demand for retransfer, whether dialogue will take place, or whether there will be an adjustment,” he said.
Responding to the Hynniewtrep Border Dispute Redressal Forum’s demand that the 1958 ground demarcation report on Block I should not be ignored, Dhar said there is broad consensus among stakeholders that the long-pending border issue should be resolved at the earliest. “Everyone is demanding that the border issue be solved at the earliest,” he said.
He noted that conflicting claims in some areas require the government to first examine a comprehensive report from the district administration before taking any position. “These are called areas of difference. We hope to receive the report from the district administration and place it before the Chief Minister. Only after both committees meet can we take a call,” he added.
Asked whether Block I and the remaining disputed areas would be difficult to resolve, Dhar acknowledged the complexity of the decades-old issue but remained optimistic. “The border issue is very complicated. It has been there for more than 50 years, not just the last two weeks. Difficult does not mean impossible. It means we have to work harder, with understanding from both states and in consultation with all stakeholders. We will try to resolve it as both states are involved,” he said.
On the situation in Lapangap, Dhar said the area remains peaceful. “As of now, everything is okay in Lapangap. Everything is normal and people are able to go to their paddy fields as usual,” he said.
