Talks on Border Disputes to Resume in April-May: Conrad Sangma

SHILLONG: The chief minister of Meghalaya has mentioned that the next round of talks between the states of Assam and Meghalaya will take place in the upcoming months with the aim to bring a complete solution to the border problem.

The border disputes between the states of Meghalaya and Assam were an important part of the election manifesto for several political parties which participated in the Meghalaya Assembly polls. Although a high-level dialogue was already underway between the states, the incident of violence at a border village had brought the process to a grinding halt. Several people including local villagers and a member of Assam’s forest department had perished in the incident.

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma mentioned in the assembly on Wednesday that the next round of the border talks will be conducted in the month of April or May. He also mentioned that regional committees will be reconstituted for the resolution of these differences in the regions where the differences still exist.

These committees will consist of ministers and MLAs representing those regions. The six areas of the dispute lie in the Ri Bhoi, West Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills districts of the state of Meghalaya. The disputes between the two-state come under Block I in the West Jaintia Hills, and Block II in the Ri Bhoi and Langpih regions of the West Khasi Hills district of the state.

He also mentioned that detailed consultations will be taking place at the ground zero of the conflicts and all stakeholders including autonomous district councils and the traditional heads of the districts will be consulted before moving forward with the discussions.

Conrad K Sangma had earlier mentioned that a perfect solution is not possible towards resolving the border dispute between the two neighbouring states, but his government will try to find the best possible solution to the long pending dispute.

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