Assam-Meghalaya bury border problem: form coordination committee

Guwahati, Jun 11(UNI) The Meghalaya and Assam today buried all their differences over the border dispute and decided to form a coordination committee in a bid to resolve the problem in a phased manner.

The decision was taken at a high level meeting between Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and his Meghalaya counterpart Donkupar Roy and senior officials.

The committee, comprising the chief secretaries of both the states, deputy commissioners-- Kamrup and West Khasi hills, Principal Secretaries of Revenue and Survey of India officials, will look into the disputed area of Langpih and submit its report within six months.

The Chief Ministers said amicable solution to the disputed area would be reached by the committee in a phased manner.

Mr Gogoi said Assam wants to arrive at an amicable solution of the boundary row with neighbouring Meghalaya as per the provisions of the constitution.

''All border disputes between the two states must be solved constitutionally,'' said Mr Gogoi.

Dr Donkupar also echoed similar views .

Both the Chief Ministers agreed to meet at regular intervals to pave way for permanent settlement of the inter-state boundary dispute.

As of now, both the sides agreed to maintain status quo in the disputed Langpih area. The meeting decided that both sides would give prior information to each other about any development taking place in and around the disputed area.

The Assam Government was represented by Chief Secretary P C Sarma, Principal Secretary, Home&Political, Subhas Das, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, TY Das, Home Commissioner, Rajiv Bora, Principal Secretary, Revenue, VK Pipersenia, IGP(SB), Khagen Sarma, Commissioner&Secretary, border area development, BB Hagjer and other senior officials. The Meghalaya side was represented by Deputy Chief Minister, HS Lyngdoh, Health Minister, Dr. A. Pariong, Chief Secretary, Ranjan Chatterjee, DGP, BKD Sawian and IGP (SB) SP Singh.

The two neighbouring states had been engaged in a bitter dispute over its boundaries with Langpih, about 100 km from Guwahati.

Assam claims it to be a part of its Kamrup (Rural) district and had gone ahead with a foundation stone-laying ceremony of a health care centre and road development package despite warnings by Meghalaya.

Meghalaya, on the other hand, had written to the Union Home Secretary as well as Assam Chief Minister Mr Gogoi to pressurize Assam to forsake any claim over Langpih.

UNI MT-SG KK RN1941