Shillong, Dec 13 NNN : The traditional village council of Hima Nongspung-a village chiefdom located along the disputed plots between Assam and Meghalaya justified its decision to accept the developmental projects offered by Assam. Notwithstanding the hue and cry raised by a section of the council functionaries , the Syiem Chief of Hima Nongspung (Nongspung chiefdom) P R Syiemiong told the newsmen in Shillong on Tuesday, “ allowing the government of Assam to construct a road does not mean that we have ceded our traditional lands”.
Taking on his adversaries who accused him of conniving with the government of Assam, Syiemiong said that the decision to accept the developmental projects is part of the agreement arrived at by the then chief Ministers of the two states . Displaying the papers entered by the chief ministers of Assam and Meghlaya in 1992 and 2011 to allow both states to develop the areas of dispute till an amicable solution is arrived at on the disputed inter state borders, Syiemiong also produced the agreement on 03/12/2011 entered by him with Himata Tallukdar (MLA) and Sidik Ahmed (border minister of the government of Assam) agreed and confirmed that “the government of Assam will not stake any claim or land right over the portion of road that run from Nongspung chiefdom that is from Patgang, Longkhung, Jimrigang and Bakhlapara measuring for 10 kms”.
Mainatining that Road communication is the back bone of the state and people residing in these neglected areas will benefit especially for the transportation of the agriculture product and for the better road communication, the Traditional Chief clearly stated that these are pointers that we will not secede our lands to Assam
“Even after construction of the road the Hima (chiefdom) will exercise all its rights over administration and all other customary functions that the chiefdom exercised,” stated the Chief while citing to the agreement entered.
Hima Nongspung as it is called is one of the 12 areas of difference between Assam and Meghalya . Since 1973, both the states have failed to resolved the boundary dispute .
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/tussle-for-taking-up-works-in-border-areas/
