SHILLONG, MAY 18: The chief ministers of Meghalaya and Assam are coordinating very seriously to resolve the Lapangap issue, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said Monday, after a joint village meeting failed to reach a final settlement.
“Both the chief ministers are coordinating about this issue very seriously,” Dhar told reporters, stressing that the matter was being dealt with at the highest level.
His remarks came after representatives from both villages met in the presence of deputy commissioners and superintendents of police from Meghalaya and Assam.
“There was a meeting between both the villages in presence of the district administrations from both sides,” Dhar said. “The meeting was very good and it went off peacefully.”
However, he confirmed that no conclusion had been reached.
“There are some issues still left,” he said. “Finally, the decision on how to go about it, we have not yet come to a conclusion so let us see another two or three days.”
Farming activities in the disputed area remain suspended.
Asked if cultivation had resumed, Dhar said, “As of today not yet resume.”
The Deputy CM clarified that the dispute was not part of the larger border talks.
“About the Lapangap issue, it is not about border issue, it is mostly about livelihood,” he said.
On the second phase of inter-state border negotiations, Dhar said Meghalaya was waiting for Assam to reconstitute its regional committee.
“On the border issue, when they (Assam) appoint their chairman of the regional committee, we will discuss accordingly,” he said.
