Guwahati: In a bid to resolve the inter-state border issue, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on Friday signed the Namsai Declaration.
The declaration was signed after the Chief Ministers of both the states conducted a crucial meeting today along with cabinet ministers from both sides.
Speaking over the matter, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted that the border issue with Arunachal is nearly about seven decades old and to resolve the same an effort is being made by both sides.
''Now, there is no dispute between the two states over the 123 villages along the border area. 28 villages are already within Arunachal's boundary. The dispute between the two has been reduced or restricted now. Only 86 villages have the dispute now; not 123 villages... this is historic," he added.
Meanwhile, both the states have agreed to form 12 regional committees to resolve the border issues along with the interstate border which will visit the disputed sites, and after that, these committees will submit their report on 15th September.
Based on the outcomes of each committee's report the talk shall move further. Reportedly, the Namsai declaration would be sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his approval.
The two Chief Ministers met for the first time on boundary disputes on April 20, 2022, in Guwahati.
The April 20 meeting was crucial for reaching the consensus between the two chief ministers for an out-of-the-court settlement of the boundary disputes as they have a case pending in the Supreme Court for decades.
Assam shares an 804.10 km boundary with Arunachal Pradesh.
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