Historic agreement between Assam and Meghalaya to resolve boundary dispute

Tags: State News National News

The Assam and Meghalaya government signed an agreement in New Delhi on 29 March 2022 to resolve the border disputes. The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Minister Amit Shah.

•  A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Kongkal Sangma to resolve the border dispute between the two states.

• The dispute arose when Meghalaya was created a State  in 1972 by dividing Assam.  Both the States had different perceptions of their borders and soon both the states started claiming certain portion of area as there's, leading to dispute in 12 locations in the border areas.

• In August 2021, Assam and Meghalaya had formed three committees each to go into the boundary question,following two rounds of talks between Sarma and Sangma during which the states resolved to settle the border dispute in a phased manner.

• The governments of the two states had come up with a draft resolution to resolve their border disputes in six of the 12 “areas of difference” along the 884-kilometre boundary.

• In the six places, there are 36 villages, which cover an area of 36.79 square kilometres. Assam will keep 18.51 square kilometres of land, and will give Meghalaya 18.28 square kilometres of land, according to the proposed recommendations for the 36.79 square kilometres of land. 

• The six disputed sectors are Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pillangkata and Ratacherra under the Kamrup, Kamrup (Metro) and Cachar districts of Assam and the West Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi and East Jaintia Hills districts of Meghalaya.
• Apart from Meghalaya, Assam has boundary disputes with Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland. All these States, two as Union Territories initially, were carved out of Assam between 1963 and 1972.

• The two Chief Ministers have expressed hope that the remaining six points on  border issues will be resolved  soon.