The next round of talks on the border dispute between the state of Meghalaya and Assam will be held in Guwahati on June 2. This meeting will be held at the Chief Minister level of both the states. Meghalaya Chief Secretary Donald Phillips Wahlang said on Thursday that the issues of the remaining six disputed areas between the two states will be discussed in this meeting. The aim of both the parties is to find a peaceful and permanent solution to these problems.
Agreement and area allocation was done in the first phase of talks
After the completion of the first phase of talks, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the two states in March 2022. Under this agreement, a common policy was adopted in six areas – Tarabari, Gijang, Hahim, Bokalpara, Khanapara-Pillankata and Ratachera – to end the dispute that has been going on for about fifty years. Under this, 18.28 square kilometers of area was handed over to Meghalaya and 18.51 square kilometers to Assam. The total disputed area was 36.79 square kilometers.
The remaining disputed areas will be discussed in the second round of talks
However, after the first round of talks, some issues still remain to be resolved. In the next round, talks will be held on six disputed areas like Block I and II, Pasiyar-Khanduli, Borduar, Nongwah-Mawtamur, Deshdumrah and Langpih of West Khasi Hills district. There are more complexities related to land in these areas. That is why three regional committees have been given more time for detailed investigation in relation to them. These committees are communicating with the people of the concerned areas and studying the historical, social, administrative and geographical situation there.
Long history of Assam-Meghalaya border dispute and way forward
There has been an old dispute over 12 areas on the approximately 885 km long border between Assam and Meghalaya. To clarify the boundaries of these disputed areas, the Survey of India Department of the Government of India has started demarcation in six disputed areas where an agreement has been reached. This process is expected to reduce mutual disputes between the two states. Both the state governments are continuously negotiating to resolve the border disputes and it is expected that the remaining issues will also be resolved in the coming time.
