Meghalaya awaits Assam’s response on joint border inspection
Shillong, July 18: Even as Meghalaya is awaiting a response from Assam government for a joint inspection of the border, the state government has remained firm on its objective to hold Block I and II areas within Meghalaya once and for all.
Informing this, deputy chief minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong on Friday reiterated the state government’s decision to request Assam government to re-transfer Block I and II to Meghalaya.
He referred to a 1950 notification, which mentioned transfer of certain areas from Meghalaya (then Khasi-Jaintia Hills) to Karbi Anglong. According to Tynsong, the present issue is about re-transfer of Block I and II to Meghalaya.
“…from the government side what we wanted is to only request the government of Assam to retransfer back to Meghalaya.”
Tynsong, also chairman of the Regional Committee, is awaiting a response from his Assam counterpart to schedule a joint inspection.
“I am yet to get the date from my counterpart because in Ri-Bhoi we have two-three chairmen from Assam side whereas from this side I am the only chairman,” he said.
Referring to the assembly elections in Assam round the corner, Tynsong said, “I don’t know whether they will be able to spare their valuable time for joint inspection… I am still awaiting for their reply.”
Asserting that Meghalaya is ready for the joint inspection, he expressed the hope that Assam side would respond positively once the monsoon season is over August.
Meanwhile, he appealed to villages on both sides to maintain peace and harmony, highlighting that the border dispute has been ongoing for generations.
According to him, the issue can only be resolved through joint inspection and discussion between the committees, led by the Chief Ministers of both states.
“This problem will continue until and unless the committees sit down and discuss all these issues,” he stated.
