GUWAHATI: Assam Agriculture, Veterinary and Assam Accord minister Atul Bora is confident of a breakthrough in Assam- Mizoram border talks and apprised that the Mizoram government has submitted to Assam a list of demands in regards to the inter-state border talks between the two neighbouring states.
On the recently- held talks, Atul Bora said, “We had a long discussion with Mizoram home minister and other senior officials. After discussions, they submitted some demands.”
When asked about the developments regarding the Assam-Mizoram border talks, the minister expressed the hope that something definitely is going to happen this time.
The boundary issue between Assam and Mizoram has existed since the carving out of Mizoram from Assam. Mizoram was first listed as a union territory in 1972, and then as a full-fledged state in 1987.
The long- pending boundary issue between Assam and Mizoram dates back to the colonial era when inner state lines were demarcated according to the administrative needs of British Raj.
The Assam-Mizoram dispute has its history in two notifications passed under British era.
Secondly, the seed of contention is the notification of 1933 that demarcates a boundary between Lushai Hills and Manipur.
Mizoram believes the boundary should be demarcated on the basis of the 1875 notification, which is derived from the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) Act, 1873.
Historically, Mizo leaders have been against the demarcation notified in 1933, as according to them, the Mizo society was not consulted at the time. On the other hand, the Assam government has been happy with the inter-state boundary as drawn out in the 1933 demarcation.
Both states continue to have a differing perception of the border as a result and that is the point of contention and conflict.
There is a inter-state border stretching for 164.6-km that separates Assam and Mizoram, with the three Assam districts of Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj sharing a border with Kolasib, Mamit and Aizawl districts of Mizoram.
Incidents of violence at the Kolasib point s still fresh in the minds of the people. There is a need to go forward to resolve the boundary dispute at the earliest so that future generations can live in peace.
Further, the boundary between Mizoram and Assam follows naturally occurring barriers of hills, valleys, rivers and forests, and both sides have attributed border skirmishes to perceptional differences over an imaginary line.
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