Members of Nongspung syiemship at the meeting with the executive member of KHADC Lamphrang Blah on Tuesday in Shillong. Picture by UB Photos
Shillong, Dec. 14 : Meghalaya’s residents along the inter-state border with Assam have no objections if Dispur carries out development work in their villages, provided it makes no territorial claim on the land.
This came to the fore after a traditional chief (syiem) of Nongspung syiemship Peter Roger Syiemiong met officials of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) today following allegations that the former had allowed the Assam government to construct a road along some of the border villages in Ri Bhoi district.
According to an agreement signed between Peter Syiemiong and the Assam government on December 3, approval was given for the construction of a 10km road on the land and territory falling within the syiemship.
The Assam government, represented by Gauhati West legislator Hemanta Talukdar and Assam minister for border areas development Siddique Ahmed, confirmed that they will not stake territorial claim or land rights over the portion of road that runs from the syiemship (along Patgang, Longkhung, Jimrigang and Bakhlapara villages). These villages fall within the territorial and administrative jurisdiction of Meghalaya.
Moreover, it was agreed that even after the construction of the road, the traditional chief will exercise all rights over administration and other customary functions that has been under his supervision so far.
It was also agreed that the syiemship would grant the no-objection certificate to the Assam government based on the above conditions.
The agreement was made as the construction of the 10km Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) road is expected to bring about development in the area.
However, a complaint was lodged against Peter Syiemiong by the adviser to the syiemship, W. Syiemiong, accusing the former of “arbitrarily” selling land to the Assam government.
After meeting the members of the syiemship dorbar, KHADC executive member in-charge of elaka administration Lamphrang Blah fixed December 19 as the date for settlement of the dispute.
Speaking to reporters, Peter Syiemiong said the road would help the villagers staying along the border in the transport of their agricultural produce.
“This road will bring development to our people, but that does not mean we would lose our territorial integrity,” he added.
Justifying the December 3 agreement, Peter Syiemiong said this was “in harmony with the agreements signed between the chief ministers of the two states.”
On June 6, 1992 former chief ministers of Meghalaya and Assam D.D. Lapang and Hiteshwar Saikia had agreed in Shillong to maintain the status quo and allow development activities to continue along border areas.
Also, on July 18, 2008 in Dispur, then Meghalaya chief minister Donkupar Roy and his Assam counterpart Tarun Gogoi had also agreed to allow development work to continue “in the interest of the people living in the border areas with prior intimation to either side.”
On June 5, 2010, incumbent Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma and Gogoi had inked a similar agreement in Dispur after talks were held following the Langpih firing incident on May 14 last year.
The two governments have been maintaining a status quo in the border areas with a strong pitch for a “give and take policy.”
Moreover, a joint committee of chief secretaries from the two states was formed to follow up issues relating to border dispute.
In the last meeting of the chief secretaries held in Dispur in August it was decided that both the states would go into the details of 12 sectors or areas of differences, including Langpih, before arriving at a solution.
During the meeting, Meghalaya had submitted documents and maps related to its claim on the 12 sectors in the inter-state border.