Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad K. Sangma have decided to resolve six of the 12 inter-state border disputes between the two Northeastern states before January 15.
The decision was taken at a meeting held between the Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya in Guwahati on Wednesday.
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Meghalaya’s Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said the meeting has decided that the regional committees formed by both the states will submit their reports to the respective Chief Ministers by December 31.
“After the submission of the report, both the CMs will meet again and by January 15 we are hopeful of resolving the disputes in the six locations,” Tynsong told reporters after the meeting.
The Meghalaya Deputy CM accompanied by Assam’s Agriculture and Border Area Development Minister Atul Bora said that in the first phase, six disputed locations are being mutually studied and after resolving the inter-state disputes in these six locations, the disputes of the remaining six locations would be taken up.
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The disputed locations in question along the Assam-Meghalaya border are Tarabari, Gizang, Boklapara, Pillangkata, Ratacherra, and Hahim.
Meghalaya has also used drones to survey the bordering areas.
After meeting with the Meghalaya CM, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted, “We have been continuously striving to resolve border issues with our neighbours. As part of our effort, held a meeting with my Meghalaya counterpart Shri Conrad K. Sangma along with Deputy CM Meghalaya Shri Prestone Tynsong & several ministers and senior officers of both states.”
“Our regional committees have submitted their reports and we are working towards final agreement on many disputed border areas. I am confident that gradually we will be able to resolve all-long pending border issues with Meghalaya and other neighboring states,” Sarma said.
To settle the border dispute in 12 locations, Assam and Meghalaya in August had formed various regional committees led by Cabinet Ministers and officials of the two states.