Shillong, Jan 7: The chairman of the regional committee on border covering West Khasi Hills, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar on Monday hoped that boundary dispute in the first phase of six locations would be resolved by January 21.
The 50th year of statehood is on January 21.
Tongkhar held discussions in this regard in Guwahati on January 5 and December 30 with his Assam counterpart.
He said willingness of the people and ethnicity will play a major role in arriving at a decision.
“I can’t say upto what percentage we can solve this difference but we are trying hard to reduce to the minimum the areas of differences. If not all but to some extent, there will be a solution before we celebrate the 50th year of Meghalaya’s statehood,” he told reporters .
Tongkhar said the committee has exchanged reports between Assam and Meghalaya . “We have submitted our report to them and they have given their report to us also. We have examined and I am happy to say that whatever findings we had in the joint visit, they have accordingly written in their report… it does tally with our findings,” he said.
Tongkhar said the findings of the committee were based on the maps which have been drawn before and not on the names and the numbers of villages.
On the criteria, the minister said,” I personally feel that the will of the people and ethnicity are very important to consider as we want a peaceful settlement and to get peaceful settlement it is to respect the will of the people as we are thinking of the problem of the people who are residing in those areas. If we don’t listen to their suggestions, views and opinions, their problems will continue,” the minister added.
