Meghalaya and Assam today began their second phase of border talks in Guwahati to resolve the boundary dispute in the remaining six areas of differences.
The talks took place at the Assam secretariat (Janata Bhawan) in Guwahati.
The Meghalaya side was led by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma while the Assam side was led by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Chief Secretaries of both the states and other senior officials also attended the meeting.
The talks between the two states are aimed at resolving the dispute in the remaining six areas of differences – Khanduli and Psiar, Block 1 and Block 2, Borduar, Langpih, Nongwah – Mawtamur and Desh Doomreah.
It may be noted that Block 1 and Block 2 were transferred from the then United Khasi and Jaintia District to Assam’s Karbi Anglong district for administrative convenience in the 1950s.
Today’s meeting decided that three regional committees will be formed by both Meghalaya and Assam respectively to prepare the modalities for resolving the border dispute in the six areas of differences.
The three regional committees will be formed and notified by both Assam and Meghalaya within the next 15 days.
These regional committees on both sides will be headed by cabinet ministers.
Members of the Karbi Anglong District Council in Assam will also be a part of the regional committees.
Addressing media persons, Sangma said that once the regional committees are formed, site visits and public consultation with stakeholders will also be initiated so that the boundary settlement could be completed in a reasonable time.
“We are committed to permanently resolve the border disputes between the two states in a reasonable time span,” he said.
Sangma also informed that as part of the confidence building measure, the chief ministers of the two states will visit some of the areas especially Block 1 and Block 2 “in order to give confidence to the people that the two governments are serious about finding a permanent solution to this long pending issue.”
Sangma also expressed his satisfaction on the signing of the final agreement on the six areas of differences which were taken up in the first phase of the talks between both the states.
“Both Assam and Meghalaya had initiated the discussion in the process to resolve the border dispute that lasted between Assam and Meghalaya for over 50 years. We have taken the discussion forward and have carried out a very detailed discussion before signing of the MoU,” he said.
The MoU on the first six areas of difference was signed on March 29 in New Delhi by both the chief ministers in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The six disputed areas that were taken up for final settlement in March include Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pilangkata and Ratacherra.
The Survey of India in collaboration with both the states has started the process to demarcate the borders in the six areas of differences as per the MoU.
“Both the governments are working together to ensure that the survey work completes at the earliest,” Sangma said.
