The Mizoram government is making massive effort to resolve the long pending state border dispute with neighbouring Assam, home minister Lalchamliana told the state legislature on Wednesday.
Replying to a written question by opposition group leader Lalduhoma, the home minister said the State Government has sent a letter to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs asking it to review the Mizoram-Assam boundary based on the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873 and the Inner Line of the Lushai Hills Notification, 1993.
The letter was sent to Union Home secretary on December 15 last year, he said.
Apart from this, the State Government also took initiative to resolve the long pending border dispute by collecting important documents related to the boundary, according to Lalchamliana.
He said the core committee, which was formed by the State Government to study the border dispute, has collected important documents and topo sheets related to the boundary.
The core committee, headed by chief secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo was formed in May 2019, he said, adding that some student bodies are also involved in the committee.
The home minister also said the government has not made any plan to draw political map of the State.
He said that the State Government is unaware of whether or not the joint action committee set up after the border standoff in 2018 has submitted its report to the Centre.
The joint action committee was formed by both the governments of Mizoram and Assam under Union Ministry of Home Affairs in April 2018, he said.
The border dispute between Mizoram and Assam is a long-pending issue which remains unresolved till date.
The three Mizoram districts of Kolasib, Aizawl and Mamit share about 123 km long border with south Assam’s Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj districts.
Several dialogues held since 1995 to resolve the border dispute have yielded little result.
The last border stand-off took place in March 2018 at Zophai or Karchurthal area near Bairabi town along the Mizoram-Assam border when state’s apex student organization – Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) functionaries attempted to construct a wooden resting shed there.
More than 60 people were allegedly injured when Assam police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the protesting students.
The border dispute, however, was put under control with the intervention of the Centre, which asked both the Mizoram and Assam to maintain status quo till issues are resolved.