After 7 years CM-level talks between Assam and Meghalaya held in Guwahati

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal met his Meghalaya counterpart Mukul Sangma for the first time since he assumed office in Assam in May last year.

The meeting between the two state head held after seven years.

The Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya had discussed border and various other issues of mutual interest and both vowed to take forward the dialogues to resolve some long pending issues and build a foundation for a robust relationship.

In the meeting it was discussed to resolve boundary issues through dialogue taking into account views of both sides.

Sonowal and Sangma agreed to take steps to amicably demarcate the twelve disputed areas at the border, fixing of boundary pillars etc so that long pending contentious border issues can be resolved to the satisfaction of the people of both states. 

Chief Secretary level meetings were decided to be held between the two states to iron out differences and reach at acceptable conclusions.

Raising the issue of extremist activities in South Salmara and Mancachar Districts of Assam bordering Garo Hills Districts of Meghalaya, Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal said that joint mechanism must be put in place to check criminal activities like extortion and abduction carried out by Meghalaya insurgent outfits in the border areas and intelligence sharing and other cooperation to maintain law and order must be increased.

Saying that people of Assam and Meghalaya have age old ties Sonowal stated that protection of environment must be the prime objective of both State Governments and he urged the Meghalaya counterpart to take steps to prevent cutting of hills that causes flash floods in Guwahati city.          

Expressing his pleasure for being invited to Assam for the talks, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said that his government has been able to reduce crime considerably in his state and Assam government has also extended full cooperation in managing crimes at border areas and insurgent groups would be controlled at border areas in near future.

“As Meghalaya depends heavily on Agro-Horticulture produce as a mainstay of its economy, the government of Meghalaya is committed for facilitating peaceful environment for Assam traders to augment the supply chain of its products,” Sangma said.

“We are all aware of areas of difference along interstate border between Assam and Meghalaya and certain discussion held on this and as a follow up at chief secretary level further discussion will be held so that  the leadership of both the states comes into certainconclusion to mutually resolve the issue which is mutually acceptable to the people of both the state ,” Sangma said. 
          
Saying that illegal cutting of hills would be stopped Sangma said as Meghalaya shares 433 kilometre long international border with Bangladesh stopping illegal migration and managing crime at the border areas remain key concerns for Meghalaya similar to Assam and both states must jointly tackle these issues.

Only strong political will can make it possible for both state governments to bring peace and contribute to the development of Northeast region. Meetings between district level officials of bordering districts of both states must also be organised for bringing better cooperation,” the Meghalaya CM said.

Assam Forest Minister Pramila Rani Brahma, PWD Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, Minister of State for Power Pallab Lochan Das, Media and Legal Advisers to Chief Minister Hrishikesh Goswami and Shantanu Bharali, Chief Secretary V.K.Pipersenia, DGP Assam Police Mukesh Sahay among others were present in the meeting. From Meghalaya, Chief Adviser to Meghalaya Government D.D Lapang, Deputy Chief Minister R.C Laloo, Power Minister S. Dhar, Law Minister Roshan Wrajari among others were present on the occasion.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)