Meghalaya alleges encroachment by Assam in Bakhlapara area

Allegations are that Assam has constructed a 1.23 km road well within the territory of Meghalaya in the Ri Bhoi district

At a time when both the Assam and Meghalaya governments have expedited efforts to resolve the decades long interstate boundary issue, fresh allegations have been levelled against Assam of constructing a road at Bakhlapara in Ri Bhoi district.

To review as to what is going on, the traditional chief of Hima Nongspung along with two pressure groups which include Confederation of Ri Bhoi People and KSU Western Ri Bhoi carried out a spot inspection of the area.

The stakeholders in Meghalaya had received information stating that the Assam government through the PWD department has constructed the road project at an estimated cost of Rs. 71.59 lakh covering a distance of 1.203 km which stretches from Patgon to Bakhlapara village. The work has been executed by the Public Works Road Department of the West Guwahati Territorial Road Division.

As per inputs, the traditional head of Hima Nongspung, Petrict Syiemiong has informed that a complaint has been lodged with Officer In-charge of Patharkhmah Police Station and the In-charge of Rani Outpost.
Petrict also reportedly wrote a letter to the Chief Executive Member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), urging intervention to send officials to halt the construction, as the area falls under the jurisdiction of Hima Nongspung in Meghalaya.

But Syiemiong has not received a response from the KHADC, leaving him uncertain whether officials were sent to stop the ongoing illegal construction by the Assam government.

Read also: Withdrawal of police from disputed areas: Meghalaya CM backs decision to reciprocate Assam’s actions

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