Assam, Meghalaya CMs for faster, amicable resolution to inter-state border issue

Since things are very complicated, the solution may take a long time, said CM Sangma

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said on Monday that both Assam and Meghalaya governments are keen to resolve the dispute in the remaining 6 of the 12 border areas amicably as soon as possible. He was speaking in New Delhi after the meeting of the NPP’s national committee in the national capital.

CM Conrad Sangma said, “The differences in the remaining 6 areas are very complicated and tensions (incidents of conflicts) are often reported from these locations, therefore both the Assam and Meghalaya governments want to resolve the differences in these areas as soon as possible. Since things are very complicated, the solution may take a long time.

Adding that the first meeting of the second round of border talks between Assam and Meghalaya will be held on May 24 in Guwahati, CM Sangma said that to amicably resolve the issue, both governments will try to talk with the residents of these disputed areas, stakeholders, political parties as much as possible.

Earlier, CM Sangma had said that he and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma will be visiting the Block 1 and Block 2 areas to send a message of confidence, peace and a message of restraint from both sides, including the administration.

It may be mentioned here that Assam and Meghalaya have 12 areas of dispute along the interstate border and began discussions to resolve the decades-long boundary dispute in July 2021.

In the first phase of talks, the governments of Assam and Meghalaya came to an understanding and resolved differences in six of the 12 areas which are Hahim, Gizang, Tarabari, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pilingkata, and Ratacherra in August 2022.

The remaining 6 disputed areas include –Block I, Block II, Langpih, Khanduli, Psiar, and Barduar.

In November last year, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma during his first term had stated that the process for the second round of talks between both states for settling the border issue had become “slightly complicated”, following the death of 6 people including an Assam forest guard in police firing at Mukroh village on November 22. Mukroh falls in Block I.

While Assam claims that the village is part of the Jirikinding police station area in West Karbi Anglong, Meghalaya maintains that Mukroh is in the West Jaintia Hills district.

Also Read: Border Issue: Meghalaya and Assam CMs to make joint visits to sensitive zones before month end

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