SHILLONG:
The Joint Regional Committee Meeting between Meghalaya and Assam, overlooking the disputed areas in Jaintia Hills region, was held at the State Convention Centre in Shillong on June 14 as part of the second phase of border talks.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar from Meghalaya and Assam Cabinet Minister Piyush Hazarika.
Briefing media persons after the meeting, Dhar said that both committees will start working on formulas for the second phase of border talks soon.
“In the days to come, the members from both sides will start going to the field and come out with a report within a few months,” the deputy chief minister said.
Dhar stated that the regional committee will likely submit the report to the state government by August, and that the visit will start within the last week of this month or August.
Meanwhile, Hazarika said that there is no disturbance from Assam side, and that both states will try to solve the border issue amicably.
“We do not have any problem with Meghalaya, and we respect the people of the state. Whatever is happening at the border is done by miscreants who do not belong to Assam,” he said.
Hazarika expressed optimism that the long-pending border issue will be solved with the joint cooperation within a short period of time.