SHILLONG:
Legislator Ardent Miller Basaïawmoit (Nongkrem-Voice of the People Party) on Wednesday alleged that recommendations of the regional committees constituted to ascertain the boundaries in the first phase were ignored.
The first phase of border talks between Assam and Meghalaya culminated in the memorandum of understanding to end disputes in six of the 12 areas of difference.
Basaïawmoit made scathing comments against the MDA government while taking part in the special motion during the Budget session of the Meghalaya Assembly, brought by Mawhati legislator Charles Marngar (INC)
“I don’t think we will allow the government to take us for a ride. How can we allow more than 18 sq km of land be given to Assam. We are on the losing side as I said anything done in haste will end up in waste,” Basaïawmoit said.
In these six areas of difference, he said, the phrase of “give and take policy” was applied. According to him, in Gizang area, out of the 13.53 sq km claimed by Meghalaya, 10.63 sq km went to Assam; in Boklapara, out of the 1.57 sq km claimed by the state, 1.01 sq km has gone to Assam.
In Khanapara-Pilangkata, of the 2.29 sq km claimed by the state, 1.7 sq km has gone to Assam, while in Ratacherra, East Jaiñtia Hills district, out of the 11.20 sq km, Assam managed to get 4.78 sq km.
He said that under this memorandum of understanding, an area of 18.19 sq km was given to Assam while alleging that this “deal” was not done in a transparent manner.
CREDIT TO PRE-MDA GOVTS
Basaïawmoit further said that after the border MoU for the first phase was signed members of the ruling side claimed that their government was the only one that had the courage and the sincerity to solve the border problem.
“However, as an MLA from 2008 to 2018, I have experienced this is not the only government that is concerned and serious about solving the border problem,” Basaïawmoit said.
He said, in fact the government during his time was more transparent and diligent in dealing with this issue, with better representation of all stakeholders, the claims of which were meticulously documented and submitted to Government of Assam.
Basaïawmoit pointed out that, in 2011, in Tarabari area of West Khasi Hills, Meghalaya claimed that it had an area of around 4.69 sq km. The state also claimed that this was part of Rambrai Syiemship, taken over by the British and made into Nonglang Sirdarship, and hence historically part of the Khasi state and that the 1876 notification corroborates this.
Gizang forest, which spans 13.53 sq km, is claimed by Meghalaya as well, since it was a part of Rambrai Syiemship.
In Hahim area, Meghalaya is claiming 3.51 sq km as part of the historical Rambrai Syiemship. The 1961 census shows that it was under Nongpoh police station and an area largely inhabited by local tribals.
Borduar, with an area of 147.83 sq km, also falls historically under Khasi Syiems, and was taken over by the British after the U Tirot Sing revolt. Census records of 1961 and 1971 show many villages under the jurisdiction of Nongpoh police station of United Khasi and Jaiñtia Hills district.
Boklapara, with an area of 1.57 sq km and historically part of Nongspung Syiemship, as per the 1961 and 1971 census was under Nongpoh police station as well and largely inhabited by local tribals.
Meanwhile Khanapara-Pilangkata of Ri Bhoi, with an area of 2.29 sq km, and historically part of Mylliem Syiemship, is also listed under Nongpoh police station in the 1961 and 1971 census.
“This exercise, I can say, was done diligently. So to claim that MDA government is the only one that has done marvellous work as far as settlement of boundary issue is concerned I think it is not fair,” Basaïawmoit said.
He said that the previous governments too should be given credit for diligently compiling this document to be placed before Assam.
CHIEF MINISTER’S COUNTER
Sangma countered the legislator’s comments by stating that he has always credited previous governments for their contributions towards resolving this issue, while also maintaining that they provided no concrete solutions in favour of maintaining a “status quo.”
He added 32 meetings were held between the two states since 1971, and of these, 10 were held at the chief ministers’ level in the past five years from 2018 to 2022. This led to the signing of the memorandum, which resolved the first six areas of difference shared between the two states. “Overall it was a huge milestone” that prompted full-scale survey of land, he said.
Sangma also informed that, based on the people’s will, Tarabari (4.69 sq km), which was earlier under the administrative control of Assam, was given to Meghalaya. “Assam government had also pulled out teachers it appointed and now Meghalaya is in the process of appointing the teachers (there).”
He further said the 2011 report first submitted to Assam was incomplete, and this was a major challenge for MDA 1.0 when 36 villages in West Khasi Hills wished to be part of Meghalaya in a public hearing, even as only 21–22 villages were included in the old report.
“It became a very big challenge for us, as Assam maintained that we cannot discuss the matter, as they were not in the 2011 report.”