Shillong, Feb 25: Former chief minister Mukul Sangma on Tuesday said it is high time for both Assam and Meghalaya to find permanent solution to the long pending inter-state boundary dispute.

“It’s time for them to come and ensure both sits together and find the best and lasting solution,” Sangma told reporters.

His statement came following tension at Umwali village in Langpih area of West Khasi Hills District. Villagers have opposed against the attempt by Assam police to set up a police camp in the area.

Sangma, who was the chief minister from April 2010 to March 2018 said, the responsibility of both the state governments is to be responsive to the situation and ultimately engage in bilateral discussion to find solution.

“It may be difficult to find solution but engagement must be there and there is need to refresh to what has been agreed in the past… I want that both the state governments revisit the past and ensure that an environment is created conducive for the progress and prosperity of the people residing in those areas of differences,” he said.

Asked, the former chief minister said the Meghalaya government had already submitted the whole documentation to reinforce its claims over the 12 areas of differences to the Assam government.

“It is very comprehensive documentation strong enough to reinforce our claims over those areas of differences. We have submitted to the Assam government for them to go through and then sit again for resolving the issue,” he said.

The 12 areas of differences includes Tarabari (4.69 sq km), Gizang (13.53 sq km), Hahim (3.51 sq km), Langpih (289.07 sq kms) Borduar (147.83 sq kms), Boklapara (1.57 sq kms), Nongwah-Mawtamur (137.57 sq kms), Khanapara-Pillangkata (2.29 sq kms), Block I&II (1547.42 sq kms), Khanduli-Psiar (76.80 sq kms) and Ratacherra (11.20 sq kms).

Sangma however said that the Assam government has been delaying to have further discussion with on the matter.

“There are number of meetings that were fixed but subsequently they (Assam) keep on postponing,” he said while adding this repeatation only indicate that they are not committed to resolve this issue at the earliest.

The Congress leader further added, “After going through the documentation, they (Assam) may be finding that they are not in a strong wicket to actually tell that those areas of differences should ideally be considered justifiable to be with Assam…there were many wrong interpretations and therefore areas of differences have cropped up and based on the documentations that must be corrected.”

He also recalled that the Assam government was opposed to the proposal made by the Meghalaya government to urge Government of India to mediate and find amicable and acceptable solution.

“They want that the matter should be bilaterally resolved and therefore, we had to again revisit our approach since our counterpart is not willing (to have Centre as a mediator),” he said.

“I agree that it doesn’t indicate whatever is there in the exhaustive documentation will be accepted in totality but the reason for not accepting in totality if there are points of difference anywhere that is why there is need for mutual engagement and that this must be resolved,” he added.

Sangma also said that he had urged Assam government on the need to involve all political parties for bringing a permanent solution to this ever elusive problem.

Meanwhile pending solution to end the border dispute, the former chief minister urged both the state governments to ensure that the people residing in the areas of differences do not suffer as this commitment has been mutually accepted by both states in the past.

“Now unfortunately, the kind of mistrust and the resultant tension that is prevailing along those areas of differences that is something which is not insync with what we wanted to create mutually,” he said.

He also reminded that both the states have been committed to ensure that there is no more new settlement in those areas of difference should be allowed. On the other hand, Sangma said that developmental programmes should be allowed to continue in the interest of the people residing in the border.

“But when any of the counterparts takes up any developmental programmes at any level of the district authorities, they should inform the counterparts before taking up those initiatives, that has been agreed,” he said.