Keeping the promise of Team Karbi Anglong to visit the remotest corner of the districts under the administrative control of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) to know the problems of the people and for development, Chief Executive Member (CEM), KAAC, Tuliram Ronghang along with others visited Assam-Meghalaya border on Tuesday.
CEM Ronghang attended a series of programmes at Khanduli in West Karbi Anglong, 198 km from here.
Addressing ‘Cultural Exchange-cum-Border Development Programme’ at Khanduli Playground, Assam-Meghalaya border, 30 km off West Karbi Anglong district headquarters Hamren, he stressed on maintaining peace.
The area is populated by Karbi, Khasi-Pnar and others and incidents of communal tension are often reported from the area.
The CEM said, “Karbis and Khasis have been living together for decades by exchanging the language and culture, but bad elements have created a rift in the long term mutual trust and brotherhood between the two communities. With a united effort from all communities such things can be wipe out.”
He also laid stress on development and highlighted the works done by the Centre and the State Government and by the KAAC. Infrastructure development particularly building roads is given importance, said CEM Ronghang.
He said that roads construction will be taken up soon from Khanduli to Saisema, Mokoiram to Rupai, Mokoiram to Langkeroi, Mokoiram to Madar, Khanduli to Tapat and Langhemphi to Tadolangso all in West Karbi Anglong.
A cultural centre is coming up in Khanduli and a concrete bridge across Karbi Langpi River connecting West Karbi Anglong with Ribhoi district of Meghalaya will be constructed soon. Potable water facility and electricity will be provided. To have security of their lands pattas for people of border areas will be distributed soon, he assured.
He attributed the slow progress of road construction work on anti-social elements demanding money from contractors in the name of RTI. “Such fake information seekers have become ‘Right to Income’ activists instead of ‘Right to Information’ activists,” he said.
Ronghang asked the new contractor working on the stretch of road from Hamren and Baithalangso under NEC to complete it by March 2019. The earlier contractor Napoleon Kathar has been blacklisted for not completing the work. Ronghang also said that even an inch of Karbi Anglong land will not be ceded away to Meghalaya.
Earlier the CEM visited Ronghang Rongbong, the seat of Karbi traditional king for laying of foundation stone for construction of concrete-paver block road and renovation of Lindokpos, traditional dignitaries, quarters and construction of new resident of Kathar Bura (traditional dignitary) which will be completed by March next year.
Executive Member (CM), KAAC, Pradip Rongpi and Rupsing Teron, Chairman, KAAC, Longki Timing, MLA Dr. Mansing Rongpi, Principal Secretary, KAAC, Mahadananda Hazarika, DC, West Karbi Anglong, Debojyoti Hazarika, SP, Mrinal Talukdar and others accompanied the CEM.