Maintaining that the incident at the disputed Langpih area, where the Assam Police had recently opened fire killing 4 Meghalayans was an "eye-opener", Sangma asserted in the State assembly, "Enough is enough. We need to integrate our thoughts and must utilize this opportunity to address the issue."
Stating that funds have been earmarked for the development of all areas along the inter-state boundary, Sangma said every government department would be asked to set aside a "certain percentage" of their respective budgetary allocations for the purpose.
"We have already floated tender for construction of a all-weather road connecting Langpih and earmarked funds for Psiar area in the Jaintia Hills," the chief minister informed the House even as he observed that people living along the inter-state boundary could not be allowed to be "lured" by neighbouring Assam, with its own developmental projects.
Observing that there has been "undue delay" in the settlement of the boundary dispute between Meghalaya and Assam, the CM said, "We must ensure that this problem is not inherited by the next generation."
Stating that it was not necessary to create a new department for development of inter-state border areas as suggested by Leader of Opposition Conrad Sangma, Mukul concluded by saying that convergence of various developmental programmes would be a better option.
Earlier, moving a motion to discuss the need for a "definite policy" and a separate department for development of the border areas, Conrad had noted that the existing department for border areas development was catering to areas along the international border with Bangladesh and had no jurisdiction over areas along the inter-state boundary. The NCP MLA even called for setting up of a separate "Border Security Force (BSF)" by the State Police to be deployed along the inter-state boundary with Assam.
Legislators Paul Lyngdoh, Manas Chaudhuri and E Bamon also called for immediate measures to settle the long-pending boundary dispute with the neighbouring State.
Calling for Central intervention in the matter, Lyngdoh said the inter-state boundary dispute between Meghalaya and Assam ought to be made a "national issue". According to him, Assam had been "pro-active" in pushing "human settlements" along the boundary with the ulterior motive of grabbing Meghalaya land.