Staff Reporter
SHILLONG:
People in border districts are concerned, according to the Hynniewtrep Border Dispute Redressal Forum, that the MoU signed by the governments of Assam and Meghalaya may deprive them of their land.
“There are many border residents facing heavy losses of land,” the forum’s spokesperson Thomas Passah told reporters on Thursday, citing Maikhuli, Iongkhuli, and Malongkona as examples. “There are instances where the house they stay in is in Meghalaya but their farms and other assets like fish, ponds, and so on fall under Assam.”
Passah further stated that because Assam and Meghalaya have different landholding systems, the development may generate anomalies in future. Passah also stated that it will be extremely difficult to ensure that those inhabitants of Meghalaya whose lands have been placed in the jurisdiction of Assam are protected.
Passah criticised regional parties for causing confusion, claiming that the same regional parties that were in the MDA government and were aware of the MoU’s terms are now opposing it.
“Either one of them, the chief minister or the regional party leaders, is lying. This has created confusion,” he remarked, referring to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s statement that the regional leaders are aware of the contents of the MoU.
According to Passah, the governments of Assam and Meghalaya are up to another challenge when it comes to resolving next phase of border disputes.
“While settling the areas the chief minister has to be very cautious and we want transparency in phase two and we want involvement of all the district councils, all landholders, Syiem, headmen, Waheh Shnong and others to be taken on board to avoid a complication like this,” he said.
Calling for a re-examination of the MoU, he said that it concerns people’s private lands, which they will lose, going on to say that regional committee failed to address the issue.
“The report made is based on assumptions only, they should have met landowners and taken everyone into confidence.
Phase 1 has failed,” he said.