Dimoria villagers resolve to merge with Meghalaya

Neighbouring State has shown us the path of development, we don’t even get to see our local MLA here, rue locals

Our correspondent

Dimoria, Sept 30: Exasperated at the perennial under-development in their area, local residents of as many as 13 villages in Dimoria on Wednesday resolved to merge with Meghalaya which "has showed them the path of development".

The villagers representing the 13 villages today held a meeting at Magursila and took the decision.

"Though we are a part of the prestigious Dispur legislative assembly constituency, the policies and schemes of the Assam government have failed to reach us even after 69 years of Independence. We feel as if we are trapped in kalapani. The people had voted for the Congress in the last assembly elections, but since then we have not seen our local MLA," rued president of the Magursila Yuvak Sangha Birun Phangso.

“Meghalaya has showed us the path of development. We are left with no option but to merge with the neighbouring State,” he rued.

The voters in the area have also resolved to boycott the 2016 assembly election.

The Sentinel had in its September 21 issue revealed the shocking under-development in these 13 villages– Markrang, Magursila, Bandargog, Dandarai, Pithagog, Pesamsaru, Barkasarang, Kalangpur, Kasangmola, Arlokong, Marlak, Panikanti and Khongadok –  which comprise of more than 10,000 inhabitants.

No government scheme has made its way to these ramshackle villages.

Power supply is as good as non-existent, while the Ampri river is the only source of drinking water for the villagers.

However, on the other side of the Ampri river – which is the inter-state border, the scene is contrasting. The Meghalaya government is laying down new roads, providing drinking water facilities and even setting up banks.

Three three key roads in the area – Tegheria-Markang, Magursila-Pesamsar and Markang-Pithagog – are deteriorating by the day. They become unmotorable during monsoons.

In absence of a health centre, villagers are dependent on medicil herbs found abundantly in the area. The nearest health centre is the Sopur Civil Hospital, about 20 km away from here. People rarely take that option due to the poor road condition.