2nd phase of border talks: Meghalaya, Assam to form regional committees within next 15 days

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 21, 2022

In a major sigh of relief to the people living in the areas of dispute between Assam and Meghalaya, the two State Governments on Sunday decided to start the Second Phase within the next 15 days.

The decision was taken at meeting held between the Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at Guwahat on Sunday. 

The second phase of border talks was held after five months of the successful signing of the historict Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ending the dispute in 6 of the 12 areas of difference, in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on March 29.

After the meeting, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the two state governments have decided to take up the remaining six areas of difference namely – Psiar, Khanduli, Block I, Block II, Bardua, Mawtawar and Langpih area – in the second phase of border talks.

“We have decided that within the next 15 days, the two state governments will form the regional committees for the three areas/districts,” he said.

He said the regional committees will be headed by the cabinet ministers from the two states as chairpersons. 

Sangma said the bilateral meeting also resolved to include representatives frm the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) in the Assam regional committees.

“Once the committees are formed then accordingly, site visits, public consultations with stakeholders will start and we hope that the process will move forward and in a reasonable time we should be able to complete the process for the next six locations,” he said.

The Meghalaya chief minister further informed that he along with  the Assam Chief Minister will also visit important locations like Block I and Block II as a good will gesture.  

“We have also decided that as a good will gesture and a public confidence building measure, the Assam Chief Minister and myself will be making visits to certain important locations like Block I and Block II in order to give the confidence to the people that both the state governments are committed and are serious to find a permanent solution to this very long pending issue of border dispute between the two states,” he said.  

Based on the MoU signed on March 29, Sangma informed that the Survey of India and the two state governments have started surveying and demarcating the different borders that should be there between the two states and where the pillars should come up.

“The Survey of India along with the two state governments are continuously doing the process and because of weather conditions and because of certain areas where certain people have to again be taken into confidence. The process is moving forward and as I said the process will move forward by taking everybody into confidence and both the administrations as well as both the governments are working to ensure that the survey works for the six areas are completed at the earliests,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sarma expressed hope that the second phase will also see some kind of resolution between the two states for ending the dispute in the remaining six areas of difference.

“I hope and pray like first phase, second phase will also be smooth, will see some kind of resolutions between the two states  and of course whenever required and whenever necessary the chief ministers of both the states will continue to meet and if some guidance is required to be given to the regional committees we will keep on giving. That is the spirit of the discussion today that within 15 days committees will be notified and will try to resolve the dispute,” he said.

“I am sure with the blessing of the PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah we will be able to resolve the dispute amicably and to the satisfaction of the people of both the states,” Sarma added. 

The Assam chief minister said both the state governments are committed to resolve the border dispute.

He said 3 disputed areas falls within the jurisdiction of the KAAC, they have decided that the regional committees will also include representatives from KAAC. 

“The KAAC will help the state government in resolving the dispute,” he added.