Assam-Meghalaya Border Disputes: Both States to find solutions in phases

 Two States will form regional committees to visit disputed areas

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Assam and Meghalaya have agreed to resolve their decades-long boundary disputes in phases.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad Sangma decided this at a meeting at Assam Administrative Staff College at Khanapara today. During the meeting, the two states identified six areas of disputes between them along the inter-state border. They decided to set up three committees, each headed by a Cabinet minister to find a solution. There are 12 disputed areas along the Assam-Meghalaya border.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said that the meeting took place in a conducive and positive atmosphere. He said that there are different types of areas of disputes along the border—complicated, less complicated and very complicated. So, both the governments have decided to solve the issues in a phase-wise manner, he said.

Sangma said the six areas of disputes identified during Friday's meeting are Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pilangkata and Ratacherra. The disputed areas involve West Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi and East Jaintia Hills districts of Meghalaya and Kamrup, Kamrup (Metropolitan) and Cachar districts of Assam. The two states share an 884.9-kilometre-long border between them.

Sangma said each state would form three regional committees headed by a Cabinet minister each. These committees would make joint visits to six areas of disputes and hold discussions with panchayat members and the civil society to get their views. Following this, they would hold consultations among themselves and finally make presentations before the two chief ministers after 30 days.

The Meghalaya CM said the focus would be on historical facts, ethnicity, administrative convenience, mood and sentiment of the people and contiguity while finding solutions in the areas of disputes along the border.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters in the same press conference on Friday that his state does not have any dispute from its end. He, however, said the dispute arose because Meghalaya claimed certain territories in the 12 areas of disputes along the border.

"Today's meeting is the follow-up of our previous meeting in Shillong on July 23. The prime objective of the meeting was to facilitate further discussion to resolve the border disputes between the two States amicably and peacefully. While Meghalaya had made a presentation on their views in the meeting in Shillong on July 23, the Assam government did the same on Friday," Sarma said.

Sarma said the regional committees will comprise bureaucrats and representatives from residents living along the border. He hoped that the committees would resolve the majority of differences and disputes since the Cabinet ministers from each state would head such committees. In case the committees cannot resolve some of the disputes, the issues will go to the chief minister level, he said.

"Once we can resolve the disputes in six areas, we will move to other areas of disputes. But even as the committees go about their task, we (two chief ministers) will visit Langpih, which falls in the 'complicated' category, to send out a message to the people that we are keen and willing to find a solution to all the disputed areas," the Assam CM said.

The very complicated areas of disputes are Langpih, Borduar, Nongwah, Matamur, Deshdemoreah Block I and Block II, and Khanduli.

Responding to the question of redrawing the boundary between the two States, Sarma said such a step will require the approval of the Parliament. "We believe the disputes are due to the problem of perception on both sides. We are attempting to align our perceptions. But in the process, if any redrawing is necessary, we will have to send the matter to the Centre. The Parliament can do it," Sarma said.

Sagma said that the last two meetings between him and his Assam counterpart have aroused the hope that the decades-long boundary disputes could be solved. "The road ahead will be tough. But why not make a try. We have made a new approach to solve the disputes," the Meghalaya CM said, urging all stakeholders, including the media, to play a positive role.

Also Read: Assam-Meghalaya boundary issue will be resolved: Governor Satyapal Malik

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