STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: State Revenue and Disaster Management (R&DM) Minister Jogen Mohan submitted a report to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently. The minister said that Meghalaya constructed roads and extended power connections to settlers 15 km inside the Assam area in the West Karbi Anglong district.
Jogen Mohan is the guardian minister of the West Karbi Anglong district. He paid a visit to West Karbi Anglong and saw the encroachment of Assam land by people from the neighbouring state.
Talking to The Sentinel, the minister said, "We've paid a spot visit to Khanduli in West Karbi Anglong recently. We've seen that people from the neighbouring state has indented 15 km into the Assam side and cultivate crops, besides erecting houses. Meghalaya erected a BOP (Border Outpost) also there, besides constructing roads and extending power connections.
"As and when officials from the Assam side go there to construct roads, the settlers there resist the work. Assam officials had to divert a PMGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana) road in the area.
"I visited three border pillars there and found two of them damaged. Since Meghalaya is our neighbour, we want to settle the existing boundary disputes between us amicably, if need be, with intervention from the Centre. The talks should be at the Chief Minister's level. I've submitted my report to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
"Whenever any official or minister from Assam visits the border area, Meghalaya sends their official or minister to the spot immediately. They should do away with this practice.
"Even if the people from Meghalaya want to become the citizens of Assam, we're ready to give them land settlement there since they are our brothers and sisters. In that case, we'll take them as our citizens. Since the area belongs to Assam, we should possess the land."