Meghalaya Cabinet minister and BJP leader Al Hek has announced significant progress in resolving the longstanding border dispute between Assam and Meghalaya. According to Hek, 80 per cent of the contentious issues have been successfully settled through ongoing negotiations.
The remaining 20 per cent of the dispute, which has persisted for over five decades, will be addressed through peaceful discussions and agreements. The dispute encompasses 12 specific areas along the 885 km border, including Upper Tarabari, Gazang Reserve Forest, Hahim, and Langpih, among others.
An agreement has been made to resolve six of the contentious areas. This problem dates back to 1972 when Meghalaya cut out of Assam to make it a separate State. The dispute had led to the loss of at least 12 lives in many clashes. As of November 2022, six people lost their lives in border disputes. Earlier on September 26, 2023, there were more confrontations, but luckily, no injuries were reported.
The Survey of India conducted a land survey at six spots on the Assam-Meghalaya Border this March 16. It was done as a follow-up action to the agreement signed by the Assam and Meghalaya governments regarding the boundary disputes of the two neighbouring States that have been pending for a long time.
The contentions exist at 12 spots on the interstate border between Assam and Meghalaya and have been pending for the past few decades.
Both governments had come to agreement two to three years ago to amicably resolve the boiling border disputes and constituted regional committees to review and report on the six spots –Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Baklapara, Pilingkata, and Ratacherra – that were the bone of contention between Assam and Meghalaya.
The Survey of India, a national mapping agency operating under the Department of Science and Technology of the Central Government, holds the primary responsibility for delineating boundary lines between numerous States on maps.
