Assam and Meghalaya held a meeting in Guwahati to discuss three disputed sectors along their inter-state boundary. The regional committees of both states met with the aim of resolving longstanding border disputes. The ministers leading the panels revealed that they would reconvene next month and conduct a joint field visit to one of the conflict areas. The meeting involved ministers, members of legislative assemblies (MLAs), and senior officials from Assam and Meghalaya.
During the meeting, Assam’s Border Protection and Development Minister, Atul Bora, confirmed that three disputed sectors were discussed. The Meghalaya government’s position on these sectors was taken into consideration. Bora emphasized the importance of verifying the ground reality and noted that district commissioners and other officials had been tasked with providing updated reports at the next meeting, scheduled for August 25. Following this, on August 26, the committees will conduct a joint inspection of West Dimoria, located in Assam’s Kamrup Metropolitan district. This visit will lay the groundwork for resolving additional sectors in the future.
The border disputes between Assam and Meghalaya have persisted since Meghalaya became a separate state in 1972. This separation led to the challenge of the Assam Reorganisation Act, 1971, resulting in disputes in 12 areas along the 884.9km-long border between the two states. Resolving these longstanding issues was stated as a priority by Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, upon assuming office in May 2021.
To address the border disputes, regional committees were established to tackle the issues in a phased manner. Initially, six areas of contention were addressed, and the committees submitted their recommendations, which were subsequently handed over to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi. This led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on March 29, 2022, to resolve disputes in six of the 12 areas. As per the agreement, the first phase focused on settling 36.79 square kilometers of the disputed area, with Assam gaining full control over 18.51 square kilometers and Meghalaya over 18.28 square kilometers.
The ongoing discussions between Assam and Meghalaya concentrate on the remaining six sectors. Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart, Conrad Sangma, held a meeting on May 24 to address these remaining areas. The objective is to foster peaceful resolutions through dialogue and mutual agreement.
By conducting joint field visits and engaging in discussions, both states hope to find amicable solutions to their border disputes. The establishment of regional committees and the progress made so far underscore the commitment to resolving these long-standing issues and promoting harmony between Assam and Meghalaya.
Overall, the meeting in Guwahati signifies the continued efforts of Assam and Meghalaya to address their border disputes through diplomatic means. The collaboration and ongoing discussions aim to bring about a peaceful resolution to the remaining sectors of contention, ultimately fostering harmony and cooperation between the two neighboring states.
