Shillong: Meghalaya and Assam on Wednesday reached a consensus for sharing information to bridge the communication gap on inter-state boundary disputes and militancy.
"Sharing of information is one of most important issues to ensure that whatever information from the top reaches the field level,"Commissioner & Secretary of Home, Jopthiaw Lyngdoh told reporters after a meeting at the nodal officers level of the two states here.
Lyngdoh said that the meeting felt that small irritants tended to create a big problem on the inter-state border.
"We have reached at a consensus that that these small irritants should be controlled and not be allowed to escalate," he said.
Lyngdoh who also headed the Meghalaya delegation said that the possibility of Assam-based militant outfits making illegal collections from Khasi-Pnar villagers with special reference to the case of Sabuda, Mawlasnai, Umlaper areas in Block II, was examined.
He said, "Assam agreed that the issue of militancy whether from Meghalaya or Assam should not be tolerated to bring peace in the minds of the people living on the borders."
Besides, issues pertaining to encroachment, new settlements and development activities in areas of differences were also discussed at the meeting.
"Both the parties have agreed that development activities including implementation of the RTE Act and health should be allow on the border after prior consultation with the respective authorities from both sides," Lyngdoh said.
On the proposed construction of a dam by Assam on Wahkri in West Khasi hills district, the Commissioner & Secretary of home said, the issue was taken up, but officers from Assam declared that they were unaware of it.
"But it was agreed in principal that no development activities should take place without mutual consultation," Lyngdoh said.
Secretary to the Government of Assam in charge Home, Politcal and Border, GD Tripati led the Assam delegation.
Meghalaya was represented by the Commissioner & Secretary of Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of three districts: West Khasi hills, West Jaintia hills and Ri Bhoi and others.
The next Nodal Officers level meeting would be held at Guwahati the date of which was yet to be fixed.
PTI
