As the boundary dispute between Meghalaya and Assam in six locations is currently in the phase of resolution through negotiations, the final assent on the matter will be done by Parliament.
It may be mentioned that Parliament had passed the Assam Re-organisation (Meghalaya) Act 1969 and the North Eastern Areas Re-organisation Act 1971 to pave the way for the formation of Meghalaya.
The boundaries of Assam and Meghalaya had been well defined under sub sections (i) and (ii) of Section 3 (i) of the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act 1969.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma met in Guwahati yesterday to sort out certain issues related to small portions of Khanapara in Ri-Bhoi and Malangkona in West Khasi Hills .
Meghalaya and Assam have agreed to resolve decades-long boundary disputes in six out of twelve areas.
Recently, the cabinets of the two states have approved a ‘give-and-take’ formula to resolve the five-decade-old border dispute in the six areas.
The six areas that will be taken up for final settlement in the first phase are Tarabari, Gijang, Hahim, Baklapara, Khanapara-Pilingkata and Ratacherra.
The other six areas, where the disputes are more complicated, would be taken up later.
Sangma and Sarma had on January 20 submitted to Union Home Minister Amit Shah the recommendations of three regional committees formed by the two states to settle the border disputes in the six areas.
According to the final set of recommendations given by the regional committees, out of 36.79 sq km of disputed area taken up for settlement in the first phase, Assam will get control on 18.51 sq km and Meghalaya the remaining 18.28 sq km.
There are 36 villages in the six points covering an area of 36.79 sq km.
According to the final recommendations, Assam will get full control of 11.94 sq km of the disputed land in Kamrup with the remaining 11.36 sq km going to Meghalaya. In Kamrup Metropolitan, Assam will keep 1.79 sq km and Meghalaya will get 0.50 sq km, while in Cachar, Assam will have 4.78 sq km under its full control against Meghalaya’s 6.42 sq km.
As per the plan, the boundary demarcation is expected to be done after the due procedure in Parliament. The Survey of India will also be roped in for necessary inspections.
