Meghalaya submits claims over 61 villages in Langpih sector

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Jan 4: Meghalaya has submitted its claims over 61 villages under the Langpih sector, which is among the six remaining unresolved areas of difference with Assam.

The regional committees constituted by Meghalaya and Assam will soon submit their respective final report after a joint visit to villages under the Langpih sector in West Khasi Hills District.

Chairman of the Regional Committee for West Khasi Hills Paul Lyngdoh said, “During our meetings, we have submitted a list of 61 villages and these are being studied by the government of Assam.”

“We have had detailed discussions even on those villages and the discussions have gone on a very positive note,” he added.

He said that the 61 villages are mostly inhabited by Khasi and Garo populations while some are with mixed populations and a couple of villages with Nepali residents.

Lyngdoh, who is also cabinet minister, said the joint field visit with Assam counterpart was supposed to happen in the month of November. He informed that he had spoken to the chairman in charge of the Kamrup district sector Chandra Mohan Patowary, who had expressed his inability to attend the joint visit and requested for time, which is why matters are still pending now.

“But I am pursuing the matter with him (Patowary). This is a bilateral matter and Meghalaya cannot act unilaterally, I mean we cannot submit a report without Assam counterpart visiting the sites along with us but it will happen,” he said while adding “I assure you that as soon as we get the final word from Patowary, we will organize maybe a couple of days of visits to the areas of dispute and then submit our final reports because already preparatory meetings have been held, detailed discussions have taken place both in Guwahati and Shillong and what is left is just the field visits which will take a couple of days and then we submit the final report.”

Lyngdoh said the committee will also seek an extension of time for submission of the final report after the government has recently fixed December 31, 2023, as the deadline.

Further, the chairman of the regional committee said that the field visit is just to instill that sense of confidence in the disputed areas so that people will have confidence that the two governments are working in tandem to resolve all differences so that they live with a sense of security in those villages.

AIM against gambling in melas

The Awakening Indian Movement (AIM) has sought the intervention of the deputy commissioner of East Khasi Hills district to ensure a blanket ban on gambling at melas being organized by different agencies.

Speaking to media persons, chairman of AIM Bansharai Marbaniang said that many people from other part of the country come to Meghalaya to host various kinds of melas, however these melas have games that encourage gambling with money which is detrimental and have a negative impact on the welfare of the people.

Marbaniang alleged that melas throughout the country are being held in order to provide entertainment to all citizens where they can experience happiness especially for children, students, and youth but at present melas in Meghalaya are being held with gambling which have detrimental and a negative impact on the welfare of the people.

“During our visit to the mela held at the Parking Lot outside Polo Ground in Shillong, the mela hosted various gambling activities with money and young people and students in uniform participated in various gambling games” said Marbaniang.

Marbaniang said that AIM is not against organizing melas in the state, however it stands against the act of gambling that is being held at the venues hence the AIM sought the intervention into this matter.