Assam-Meghalaya to hold key meeting on October 9 to resolve border issue

Shillong: Lakhmen Rymbui, a member of the Meghalaya regional committee formed to solve the Assam-Meghalaya border issue, said he would meet his Assam counterparts on October 9 in Silchar.

Regional committees from both sides would visit Ratacherra, one of the disputed territories in Jaintia Hills.

Rymbui informed that so far, the state’s regional committee has already had two meetings involving stakeholders from the Umkiang village. He added that the Chairman of the regional committee, Sniawbhalang Dhar, was also present along with the Deputy Commissioner.

“There should be no issue to resolve that area, and hope on October 9, everything will be clear, and we can find a solution,” said Rymbui.

On Monday, Assam and Meghalaya conducted a joint inspection of the interstate border areas to solve the long-pending boundary dispute. Meghalaya minister Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar and Assam minister Atul Bora led the cabinet-level committees of their states to the inspection.

Tongkhar, a member of the regional committee to look at the areas of differences in West Khasi Hills District, stated that the findings were positive but couldn’t divulge since the findings have must be first submitted to the government.

“We couldn’t reach one of the villages due to bad road conditions and will visit the village next time,” said Tongkhar.

He added that the next visit would be after the Durga puja celebrations. The minister so added that they would like to hold a meeting among the state regional committee before they meet with their counterparts again.