SHILLONG: The Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), Thombor Shiwat, has stated that the two state governments, Assam and Meghalaya, might deliberately want to prolong the discussions to resolve the interstate boundary dispute.
He pointed out that the last meeting on this issue was held before the State Assembly elections in Meghalaya.
Regarding Lapangap village in West Jaintia Hills, he said it is a very old village that has been given a Sanad (certificate of recognition) and has received recognition from the District Council.
On the recent border conflict, he expressed the District Council’s surprise because the village is recognised by them and there is no reason to lay a claim over it. He also mentioned that before the conflict, the State Government and the District Council had visited and surveyed the village, indicating that they have not neglected Lapangap.
Shiwat revealed that the Council has been requesting a meeting or discussion with the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), but the CEM of KAAC always refuses and is unwilling to even meet.
”It’s difficult to explain the reason for his refusal, but we, as a Council, want to bring peace and stability to the Meghalaya border. We want to meet, discuss, and resolve the issue, but the CEM of KAAC does not allow it and is not willing,” he said.
He further alleged that the Karbis are taking advantage to claim Meghalaya’s land because they know that boundary settlement talks will take place soon. He stated that it is up to the Government whether or not to accept the Karbis’ land encroachment.
The CEM of JHADC added that the Council has revived villages that had lost recognition for decades, such as those in Block 1, Elaka Labang Nongphyllut, by issuing Sanads to their Dolois (Traditional Chiefs) and Rangbah Shnongs (Village Headmen). He informed that there are about 500 villages under the JHADC, including the villages in Labang Nongphyllut, which is Block 1.
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Concerning the boundary settlement, he said “we do not know” where the Government will start the demarcation, but the Council is closely monitoring the areas falling under its jurisdiction. He confirmed that the JHADC had already submitted land documents to the Regional Committee for the boundary resolution about a year ago.
He stressed that the Council cannot say anything about the border dispute because until the State Government resolves the boundary and determines which villages belong to Assam and which to Meghalaya, such incidents will continue to occur periodically.
He stated, “The conflict in Lapangap is the first instance; it has never happened before. And Lapangap village is not an uninhabited place, as it has been recognised by the District Council and falls under Meghalaya.
Regarding the status of the Boundary Resolution Committee, the JHADC CEM informed that the Regional Committee last met right after the Meghalaya State Elections, and so far, no meeting has been held for the second phase of the Meghalaya-Assam border talks. “It is important to hold a meeting, but I am not the Chairman, so I cannot give a date,” he said.
He also argued that using the election as an excuse is just a pretext, because “if they want a meeting, Assam will say there is an election in Meghalaya, and if they want, Meghalaya will say there is an election in Assam—this will not lead anywhere.”
The CEM concluded by saying, “I believe the Meghalaya State Government should take this matter more seriously.”
