Shillong, July 28: The Meghalaya cabinet today decided to protest against the Assam government's alleged blocking of an approach road at Khanapara leading to National Highway 40.

Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma told reporters that an urgent cabinet meeting, convened to discuss the matter, had condemned the Assam government's action.

Terming Assam's move to block the approach road, which he claimed was under Meghalaya, as "uncalled for" and an "irresponsible act", Sangma said such action could not be accepted as it would deter the maintenance of a conducive atmosphere and peaceful existence of the people living in the area. He said by blocking the approach road, Assam was "depriving" the people of Meghalaya living along the inter-state boundary from using it to reach the national highway.

He said the deputy commissioner of Ri Bhoi district has been asked to visit the place and take up the issue with his counterpart in Assam.

Several boundary issues between the two states have taken place in the past when the Congress was in power in Assam. But such irritants were handled at the level of either the chief secretary or the deputy commissioner of both the neighbouring states.

Sangma called for resumption of chief minister-level talks on boundary disputes with Assam.