Assam-Meghalaya boundary disputes: MHA to examine reports of regional committees of both States

 Himanta, Conrad meet Amit Shah on border issue

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: In a major development in the process undertaken by both Assam and Meghalaya to solve the decades-old border dispute, the Chief Ministers of both States met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Thursday. They submitted the reports of the regional committees of both States on the Assam-Meghalaya boundary disputes and apprised him of the situation. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will examine the reports and after the Republic Day celebration, the Home Minister is likely to holds talks with both Chief Ministers on the issue.

After the meeting with Amit Shah, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Today I, along with the Meghalaya Chief Minister, met Home Minister Amit Shah. We apprised him of the outcome of the discussion held between the Assam and Meghalaya governments to resolve the border disputes amicably. We are grateful to the Home Minister for his guidance."

Sarma further said that in 2011, Meghalaya had handed over land to Assam in the 12 disputed areas. "If any land has been encroached upon again from Meghalaya side in these 12 disputed areas, the Meghalaya government has agreed to hand over the land to Assam," he said.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said, "Home Minister Amit Shah expressed happiness on the initiative taken by both States in the matter. The MHA will examine the reports and after Republic Day, we will meet Shah again."

On Tuesday, the Assam government had separate meetings with all political parties and student organizations on the Assam-Meghalaya boundary disputes. "We have prepared a roadmap for amicable settlement based on the recommendations of the three regional committees with representatives from both states. Our efforts to resolve the border row have started bearing fruit with the identification of six of the 12 areas of differences for resolution in the first phase," the Chief Minister had said.

Deliberations to end the border row have been taking place between the two States since last year and it was decided that in the first phase, six of the 12 disputed areas would be addressed. The two State governments have discussed claims and counter-claims over border areas between the two States till 2011.

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