Meghalaya government reconstituted three regional committees for border talks with Assam

For Ri Bhoi District, the Committee will consists of Prestone Tynsong, Deputy Chief Minister i/c Home (Police), etc as Chairperson, Sosthenes Sohtun, MLA Jirang, Government Chief Whip, Mayralborn Syiem, MLA Nongpoh Constituency, Damanbait Lamare, MLA Umroi Constituency, Charles Marngar, MLA Mawhati Constituency, Jambor War, Executive Member KHADC (Elaka) as Members and Deputy Commissioner, Ri Bhoi District as a Member Convenor.

For West Khasi Hills, the Committee will consist of Paul Lyngdoh, Minister i/c Social Welfare, etc as the Chairperson, R.L. Tongkhar, MLA Mawkyrwat Constituency, Methodious Dkhar, MLA Mawshynrut Constituency, Remington Gabil Momin, MLA Rambrai-Jyrngam Constituency, Gigur Myrthong, Deputy CEM, KHADC, Bajop Pyngrope, MDC, Rambrai-Jyrngam KHADC as Members and Deputy Commissioner, West Khasi Hills District as a Member Convenor.

For West Jaintia Hills, the Committee will consists of Sniawbhalang Dhar, Minister i/c Urban Affairs, etc as Chairperson, Comingone Ymbon, Minister Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, etc, Lahkmen Rymbui, MLA Amlarem Constituency, Nujorki Sungoh, MLA Mowkaiaw Constituency, Thombor Shiwat, CEM, JHADC, Aiborlang Shadap, MDC, Barato-Mukroh, JHADC and Deputy Commissioner West Jaintia Hills District as a Member Convenor.

The terms of reference of the Regional Committee is to coordinate with the relevant Regional Committee set up by the Assam Government, to cross-reference and verify the names of the villages (sub-villages) claimed by Meghalaya with the names of villages as per records of Government of Assam, to establish the geographical location of the villages and their contiguity.

They are to examine the status of population of villages as per census records including ethnicity and to prepare an ‘As-Is’ Public Asset Register in the villages, created by both the State Governments.

To visit each of the villages and interact with the communities living in the villages including the elected representatives of the Autonomous District Councils and other stakeholders to learn about the perception of the people living in the area and to document the factual information regarding the physical and time-wise distances from the villages to the nearest public service delivery point/administrative unit.

The Committee can co-opt any member whenever necessary.

In terms of logistics and secretarial support, the jurisdictional Deputy Commissioners will provide all the secretarial and logistic support for effective functioning of the Committees and the Member Convenor of the respective Committee should fix the date of visit and discussion in consultation with their respective counterpart in Assam.

With regards to the report of the Committee, the Committees will submit the report to the Government of Meghalaya within a period of 45 days from the date of this notification based on the inspection of the villages and based on the agreed yardsticks of historical perspective, ethnicity of the local population, administrative convenience of local people, contiguity with the boundary and the perception of the people living in the area.

This was informed by the Chief Secretary, Government of Meghalaya.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)