Assam- Meghalaya Chief Minister’s to meet today to discuss the long-pending border issue

The Chief Minister of Assam and Meghalaya hold a meeting today along with other senior officials from the two states to discuss the issues relating to the inter-state border between the two states, at the Assam Administrative Staff College in Guwahati.

The discussion included the boundary disputes in the 12 areas along the Assam- Meghalaya border, which is a long-pending issue.

Following the matter, a meeting was also held earlier on the 23rd July 2021 between the two Chief Ministers at Shillong.

However, this is the second time both the Ministers set together to discuss the subject of contentious debate.

During the earlier meeting, both the parties decided to put in their best efforts to resolve the decades-old inter-state boundary dispute and go beyond the word “status quo” which has been maintained by both states.

Both the government are looking forward to a road map to resolve the issue.

The Chief Ministers of both the states are hopeful as they took to their respective social media and asserted that after this meeting both the parties will come out with a common agenda of strengthening the long-standing friendship between Assam and Meghalaya and continue contributing to the development of India.

However, according to the latest reports coming, both the ministers held a press conference wherein Sangma said it has been decided regional committees, headed by cabinet ministers, will be formed to resolve inter-state boundary disputes in phased manner.

The committee will strongly emphasizes on historical facts, ethnicity, administrative convenience and will submit the reports in 30 days.

The six disputed sites taken up in the first phase are Tarabari, Gijang, Phalia, Baklapara, Pilingkata and Khanapara. These areas fall in Cachar, Kamrup Metro and Kamrup Rural districts in Assam and West Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi and East Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya.

Himanta Biswa Sarma stated through this, the governments are not trying to redraw the boundary but change the perception about those areas or villages. “If redrawing of boundaries is necessary, we will recommend that to Parliament.”