GUWAHATI: On Wednesday, Border Protection & Development Minister Atul Bora claimed that the government would not give any land belonging to Assam to Meghalaya.
“Our government led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will not give any land to Meghalaya. We will not betray the sentiment of Assam,” state border protection and development minister Atul Bora said on the floor of the Assam Assembly on Wednesday.
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Raising the issue during the Question Hour of the House, Raijor Dal member Akhil Gogoi said Assam is abandoning its rights over Constitutionally received land to Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh as per replies of the minister in the House.
Gogoi alleged that Assam is giving away its land to the neighbouring states to resolve the long-standing boundary disputes.
In his reply, Bora said the land survey is going on and it is not clear which state will get what portions of the disputed areas.
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“We are trying to settle the disputed land parcels,” Borah said.
When Gogoi reiterated his allegation that Assam is giving away state land, the minister said, “No one can satisfy Akhil Gogoi. He has been disturbing the assembly since he joined the proceedings.”
This led to a noisy scene with opposition and treasury benches engaging in a verbal duel.
“Is the Assam government a donor of state land? Who has given you that right?” asked an infuriated Gogoi.
Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia pointed out that an independent commission of 1983 had rejected the claim of Meghalaya over the disputed land.
“So, there is no question of giving away Assam land. The government should rethink its policy of giving our land to Meghalaya. For other states, the cases may be different,” Saikia added.
Bora said the two states are moving ahead by taking feedback from residents of the disputed places and the administrations of both sides.
Of the 36 disputed sites between Assam and Meghalaya, 18 have been settled, meaning “Assam gave away its land to the neighbouring state” for a resolution, AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam said.
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Assam and Meghalaya have a longstanding dispute in 12 areas along the 884.9-km-long inter-state border. The two states had, in March 2022, signed an agreement in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi to resolve the issue in six areas.
Of the 36.79 sq km of disputed areas taken up for settlement in the first phase at six places, Assam got 18.46 sq km and Meghalaya received 18.33 sq km, Bora said.
The minister said Assam and Meghalaya have a dispute over 36.79 sq km of land of which Assam gave away 18.33 sq km to the neighbouring state
The minister mentioned that the disputed areas are Taraabari, Gizang, and Bakalapara under the Boko revenue circle, Bakalapara under the Palashbari revenue circle in Kamrup district, Pillingkata under the Dispur revenue circle in the Kamrup Metro district and Ratacherra under Katigorah revenue circle in Cachar district.
Regional committees have been formed to settle the dispute in six other places of dispute with Meghalaya, he said.
The minister also said the state has a dispute over 123 villages with Arunachal Pradesh which has been sorted out by signing an MoU on April 20, 2023.
He also said talks with Mizoram are on to settle the border dispute.
“There is a case pending for disposal in the Supreme Court of India due to which talks can not be resumed with Nagaland over the border dispute,” he added.
To another question from BJP MLA Bidyasing Engleng, the minister informed the House that the state’s 3441.8601 hectares of land is under occupation of Meghalaya in Goalpara, Cachar, KamrupSouth Salmara Mankachar and West Karbi Anglong district.
Bora said 16144.0117 hectares of land are under the occupation of Arunachal Pradesh in Biswanath, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Charaideo districts.
Assam’s 59490.21 hectares of land under occupation of Nagaland in Jorhat, Sivasagar, Golaghat and Charaideo districts.
Similarly, Mizoram has also been encroaching on 82751.8618 hectares of Assam’s land in Hailakandi, Karimganj and Cachar districts, he added.