Assam, Meghalaya to solve boundary issue in six areas by December 31

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya are confident that the boundary-dispute row would be resolved soon.

Both the Chief Ministers are confident of resolving the disputes in six of the 12 disputed areas.

Assam and Meghalaya had formed regional committees to settle the inter-State boundary row in six areas in the first phase.

The committees will understand the issue at the ground level after gathering the opinions and views of the local people on the subject. The committees will be submitting their reports to their respective governments on November 30 on the six disputed areas under Kamrup, Kamrup (Metro) and Hailakandi districts.

Based on these reports, there will be more discussions; and, a final joint statement on the six disputed areas will be released by both governments by December 31, 2021.

Addressing a joint press conference in Guwahati after visiting Lumpi (along the Assam-Meghalaya boundary) on Tuesday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said, "Both the committees are working in a positive direction."

They added, "We are confident that the long-standing boundary dispute, especially in the six areas, will be resolved successfully."

When asked whether the boundary of both the States would be re-drawn, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said, "To redraw the boundary, we will have to get the approval of the Parliament. Right now, we are looking for an amicable solution through mutual understanding. We want to find out the ground-level status of the location of the villages. At the same time, we want to understand the mind of the local people."

Sarma pointed out, "We must get the nod of the Parliament for redefining the boundary. However, we are interested in redefining the inter-state boundary mutually. Both the governments are moving in the right direction; and, we hope to resolve the dispute very soon."

He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are closely monitoring the efforts. Sarma pointed out that the final decision will be according to their guidelines.

Meanwhile, Sangma said that it was the first time that the Chief Ministers of both the States had jointly visited Lumpi.

Lumpi is not among the six areas in the first phase. Sangma said that both the Chief Ministers had visited Lumpi to seek their opinions, on the boundary row.

"It is a politically sensitive subject. We are trying our best to find out a solution so that all the stakeholders are satisfied," added Sangma.

After the regional committees submit their reports on November 30, there will be a meeting with all the stakeholders. Sarma added, "Only after this meeting, both the governments will issue a final statement. It will be by December 31, 2021."

Earlier, addressing the local people in the Lumpi area, Sarma said that the spirit of brotherhood would boost friendship between the two states. Sarma also assured the people that the issue of Lumpi will figure during the second phase for discussion.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma appreciated the initiative taken by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to find out an amicable solution to the inter-state boundary issue. He also said that people of those disputed areas suffered during the last 50 years. Keeping this point in view, both governments have come forward to settle the issue through dialogue. He lamented that no government had initiated such committed efforts on this sensitive inter-state subject. He added that the joint visit of both the Chief Ministers would boost the confidence of the people living in Lumpi.

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