Shillong, July 7: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) is waiting for the decision of the five Himas on filing of a petition against the MoU signed between Meghalaya and Assam for resolving border disputes.
The Executive Member in-charge Elaka, Jambor War, informed that the Chief Executive Member (CEM) had called a meeting with the traditional heads of the five Himas —Mylliem, Nongspung, Jirang, Nonglang and Jyrngam Sirdarship — from West Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi on March 15, to get their views on the MoU.
War said the KHADC had also written to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma expressing the views of the five Himas and requested the state government to revisit the MoU.
“However, we have not received any reply but we only saw through the media that the state government had maintained a clear stand not to revisit the MoU,” War said while replying to a resolution moved by Congress MDC from Nongstoin Gabriel Wahlang.
Two meetings were held on April 18 and 22 and the five Himas expressed the need to form a coordination committee which both ruling and opposition MDCs are its members and that since the government cannot revisit the MoU, the only option that is left was to file a petition before the court.
“We have formed a coordination committee to look into the problems faced by the Himas. However, till now we are waiting for the information from the Himas on what action they have taken in this regard,” War said, adding that the committee would soon call for a meeting.
War pointed out that the state government forgot the stakeholders while signing the MoU.
“Due to this, the district council being a custodian had to intervene on the issue related to the signing of the MoU although the issue is a state subject,” he said.
The executive member, however, maintained that there is no misunderstanding among the MDCs on the boundary settlement. “We are united on the issue since both the ruling and opposition members are part of the coordination committee,” he said.
Meanwhile, NPP MDC from Rambrai-Jyrngam said that he would continue to support the MoU to ensure the long pending boundary dispute with Assam is resolved once and for all.
“I understand if we delay further to resolve the border dispute, the problem will continue and moreover there has been so much unrest so who will not want to resolve this issue,” he said while adding that it was only the MDA government which dared to take a bold decision to resolve this issue.
Pyngrope further claimed that all villages under his constituency will remain with Meghalaya due to the MoU. He added that the MoU had clearly stated that ownership of land will remain with the people.
Asking the Margnar to go through the MoU properly, he further slammed the then Congress-led state governments in Meghalaya and Assam for failing to resolve the border dispute.
Surprisingly, Pyngrope was made to sit right next to Marngar despite being a ruling MDC.
Meanwhile, nominated member Bindo M Lanong said the government cannot take hasty decisions just for the sake of claiming that the border issue was resolved during their time. The government should stick to the actual boundary of the state, he added.
