According to a report finalized by the joint committees of the two states appointed to look into the problem, Assam is likely to yield half of its claimed portions along the disputed boundary with Meghalaya.
The committees have also set a deadline for executing the recommendations, which includes obtaining legislative approval for a Constitutional Amendment to redraw the state’s boundaries within a year.
Lands under control
According to the final recommendations of the three regional committees created by the two states to examine six disputed border stretches, Assam will get 18.51 sq km and Meghalaya will get 18.28 sq km of the 36.79 sq km disputed territory taken up for settlement in the first phase.
According to the final recommendations, Assam would take full control of 11.94 square kilometers of contested territory in Kamrup, with Meghalaya receiving the remaining 11.36 square kilometers.
Assam will keep 1.79 sq km of land in Kamrup Metropolitan and Meghalaya will obtain 0.50 sq km, while Assam will have 4.78 sq km in Cachar and Meghalaya will get 6.42 sq km.
Decades of dispute to be resolved
During a meeting organized by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, a presentation on the findings and recommendations of the regional committees was given.
Ramendra Narayan Kalita, the leader of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and a West Guwahati MLA, spoke to the media after the all-party meeting.
He stated that these locations have been a source of contention for the past five decades, despite various discussions held during that time.
“Our efforts to address the Assam-Meghalaya border dispute have begun to bear fruit, with six of the twelve points of contention identified for resolution in the first phase.” “I briefed leaders of all political parties on the progress accomplished so far during an engagement,” the Assam chief minister subsequently tweeted.
Demand for special assembly
Meanwhile, Debabrata Saikia, the leader of the Assam Congress Legislature Party, who was present at the meeting, stated that a special Assembly session will be required to continue talks on the disputed inter-state border problems.
Aminul Islam, an AIUDF MLA from Mankachar (South Salmara), agreed with the Congress, adding that the issue needed to be discussed more before a “compromise formula” was reached.
According to a report by The Shillong Times, Assam Cabinet Minister Ranoj Pegu told reporters that the representatives of the political parties were informed of the agreement made between the two states in the six zones.
Pressure groups to visit the 6 areas
All Assam Students Union, All Bodo Students Union, All Assam Rabha Students Union, Garo Students Union (Assam), and leaders from Gorkha communities would tour the six “least complex” districts on the Assam-Meghalaya border.
According to reports, Himanta sought collaboration in the mutually agreed principles throughout his interactions with the student bodies as part of the effort to bring a sustainable and lasting settlement to the decades-old border conflict between the two neighboring states.
