Thaindian News

Shillong, Dec 21 (IANS) Meghalaya’s opposition Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Wednesday urged Chief Minister Mukul Sangma to take up with the central government the formation of a commission to re-examine the boundary dispute with Assam.

The NCP demand came after the Assam assembly Monday decided against the constitution of an inter-state border dispute commission to re-examine and redefine the boundary.

Criticising the ruling Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance government for its failure to iron out the boundary dispute with Assam, NCP spokesman James K. Sangma said, “The passing of a resolution in the winter session of the Assam assembly wherein it was unanimously resolved not to constitute an inter-state border dispute commission is indicative of the fact that the Meghalaya government has not taken up the boundary issue with Assam earnestly and with seriousness.”

The resolution, he said, has come as a shock for the Meghalaya government as the state assembly earlier this year had adopted a resolution, asking the centre to form a commission to demarcate the boundary with Assam.

In fact, the Meghalaya assembly had adopted a resolution March 16 urging the central government to constitute a boundary commission to re-examine the redefine the inter-state boundary between Meghalaya and Assam.

Revenue Minister R.C. Laloo who had moved the resolution said a series of meetings between the two states both at the political and administrative levels, but a long term solution has not emerged.

Meghalaya became an autonomous state in 1971 and a full-fledged state Jan 21, 1972. Since then, the inter-state boundary as defined under the North Eastern Areas (Re-Organisation) Act, 1971 has been a point of difference between Meghalaya and Assam.

Expressing concern about the continuing Meghalaya-Assam boundary impasse, the NCP legislator said, “The people of Meghalaya were very hopeful that the promises made by the Meghalaya government towards resolving this boundary dispute would be kept. However, it seems the MUA government has till date only made empty promises.”

Meghalaya has 12 areas of difference with Assam.

In 1985, the Assam and Meghalaya governments entrusted Justice Y.V. Chandrachud to head a committee of experts on the constitutional aspects of boundary demarcation between the two states.

Assam claimed Langpih based on the recommendations of the Justice Chandrachud committee report. However, Meghalaya has rejected the committee’s report.