Shillong: The second round of discussions between Assam and Meghalaya for resolving the border dispute will take place by the end of November, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has said.
Assam and Meghalaya identified 12 disputed areas at the inter-state border.
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In the first round, the two Northeastern states resolved differences in six areas and signed an agreement in March.
“Within November we should be able to have the official talks (for the six remaining areas),” Sangma told reporters after a cabinet meeting in Shillong on Wednesday.
He said the background work has already started for the remaining six areas, and different committees formed on the issue are coordinating.
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“We should be able to have the first round of meeting with all the regional committees, and hopefully we will be able to initiate the talks of the second phase this month,” he said.
Sangma said he recently spoke to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on the issue.
“The two states will be able to hold the talks once the North East Olympic Games are over,” he added.
In September, the Meghalaya government constituted three regional committees to examine the issue.
The government asked them to submit their reports on the present status of the remaining six areas–Langpih in West Khasi Hills District, Nongwah-Mawtamur, Deshdoomreah and Block-II in Ri Bhoi district, and Block-I and Psiar-Khanduli in West Jaintia Hills district.
The six-member regional committee for Ri Bhoi district is headed by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, the committee for West Khasi Hills is led by minister Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar, and the one for West Jaintia Hills is headed by minister Sniawbhalang Dhar.