Assam Governor extols negotiated settlement of border disputes

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: With Assam and Meghalaya inching closer towards a permanent settlement of their differences, other neighbouring states like Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland have also advocated the need for a negotiated settlement of their border disputes with Assam. Discussions with Arunachal Pradesh have already started in this direction, said Governor of Assam, Prof Jagdish Mukhi. He expressed confidence that such overturns would further strengthen the spirit of united Northeast.

The Governor was addressing the budget session of the Assam Assembly which began today. "Assam has been facing border disputes with neighbouring states of Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram since their creation. Now the government has taken a bold and positive step for settling the border disputes conclusively. A path-breaking initiative has been taken with Meghalaya to resolve the vexed boundary issues in respect of the six areas of difference out of 12 such areas by setting up regional committees. Based on the recommendations of these committees, an MoU between the two states has been firmed up and the Government of India is seized with necessary groundwork to make this unique initiative reach fruition," he said while speaking about Assam's border issues with the neighbouring states.

Prof Mukhi reiterated that reducing the compliance burden and providing seamless services to the people have been a top priority for the Assam Government and many steps have been taken in this regard. "For good governance, we are in the process of removing bottlenecks in the system and carrying out administrative reforms. To fast-track consultative decision-making, cabinet meetings are being held on weekly basis."

The Governor lauded the government for effectively managing the COVID-19 pandemic since the beginning and keeping the guards against the virus even now. "Adopting a more humane approach while tackling the pandemic, the government had adopted with great success the strategy of targeted restrictions instead of complete lockdowns."

Elaborating on the government's war against drugs, he said that since May, 2021, 2,363 cases were registered and 4,052 persons arrested. Drugs of estimated value of Rs 427 crore, including 72.2 kg heroin, 19,207 kg ganja, 49 kg opium, approximately 1,90,000 bottles of Codeine-based cough syrup, approximately 31,00,000 tablets/ capsules and 3.375 kg Crystal Methamphetamine were seized.

The Governor lauded Project Sadbhavna, which he said was a one-of-its-kind initiative towards citizen-centric governance. He further said that to fulfil one of the key poll promises, the Assam Government had set in motion the process to provide one lakh jobs to youths.

Drawing attention towards climate change, Prof Mukhi said, "To mitigate climate change, land banks in revenue areas are being actively identified to enable the forest department to take up plantations with a policy mandate to plant 10 trees for every tree cut for any development work, outside the forests."

Prof. Jagdish Mukhi asserted that the Assam Government was motivated by the mission of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to turn the Northeast into a 'New Engine of Growth'. He said that the government was trying to live up to the expectations of the people and had initiated many measures aimed at unleashing the State's full potential.

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