Paul Lyngdoh, Chairman of the Regional Committee for West Khasi Hills, on Tuesday confirmed that despite repeated outreach, Meghalaya has not received a response from Assam regarding recent attempts to finalize discussions on the Langpih sector.
“We have made efforts to contact our counterparts in Assam. I have also asked the DC of West Khasi Hills to speak to the DC of Kamrup, and so far, we have not been able to receive any favourable response. There has been no response to the latest attempts for us to wind things up,” said Lyngdoh.
Lyngdoh added that the committee’s final report would only be submitted after a visit to the affected areas, which is tentatively planned for winter 2024. “We will submit the final report only after the visit to the affected areas takes place. We have indicated winter of 2024. So we are still waiting for that response from the government of Assam,” he noted.
The minister also highlighted that during the last meeting held at Hotel Pinewood, the committee presented documentation on Meghalaya’s claims over villages in the Langpih sector to Assam officials.
“We have shared these documents. The response has been positive, and we just need to cross one more hurdle, which is a visit to the affected areas, so that we are also able to meet the residents of the affected areas. That is the only hitch that remains, which we are yet to cross,” he stated.
In response to queries on the approach to the discussions, Lyngdoh clarified, “I will not say give and take, as everything will depend on the parameters, which we have identified, like contiguity, history, all of those.”