GUWAHATI : An initiative to resolve the Assam-Meghalaya border dispute permanently has been approved. The Chief Ministers of the two states are discussing face to face today. Regional committees were constituted to look into disputes in the areas of differences. On the directions of the Central Government, concrete initiatives are now being taken to resolve the decades-old border dispute between the North Eastern States of Assam and Meghalaya. The Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya have decided to set up regional committees to sort out long-standing 49-year-old pending border issues in a phased manner. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held second tier talks with Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on border issues in Guwahati on Friday.Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made a very commendable announcement saying that the two Chief Ministers will visit Langpih village as a sign of goodwill and assure the people. Assam Chief Minister Sarma said, “As a sign of goodwill, we will visit Langpih village because we want to assure the people that we cannot raise langpih now but we will take up such complex issues soon.
Langpih has been the centre of a long-standing dispute between the Meghalaya and Assam governments. Meghalaya Chief Minister K. Sangma says it is the right time to resolve the dispute permanently. He said he has been holding informal talks with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on the issue. Amit Shah has asked all north-eastern states to resolve the bilateral border dispute by august 15, the 75th anniversary of the country’s independence. There is a dispute between the two states over ownership rights of 12 localities. Meghalaya BJP MLA and minister in the state government Alexander Lalu Hek is also in the role of mediator in initiating chief minister level talks to resolve the complex issue. He is confident that this problem will also be solved on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of independence. The Central Government is also in favour of a permanent solution to the dispute. The Chief Minister has a positive attitude and has a better relationship with Meghalaya. Sangma said that we are in favour of forgetting the old allegations or the reasons for the controversy and starting a fresh dialogue. Our aim is not to find a fault with anyone but to find a solution.
Sangma says that the big aspect of the picture should be kept in mind, “Our decisions will determine how history will remember us. But the solution should be that the interests of Meghalaya and its people are not harmed. On the Centre’s direction to resolve the border dispute, the Chief Minister said that the solution to the problem depends on how the talks go forward, “Assam’s dispute is not only with Meghalaya but also with other states. We want to move forward keeping in view the time frame as per the wishes of the Centre. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on the other hand, has also expressed confidence of a permanent solution to the dispute. He says the solution is as good as possible in the interest of both the States. Meghalaya’s border dispute with Assam The formation of this State in 1972 is only 49 years old. Meghalaya has been claiming at least 12 areas. The area is currently under the control of Assam.
Both the States have adopted a policy under which no State can launch development schemes in disputed areas without informing the other State. The controversy started when Meghalaya challenged the Assam Reorganisation Act, 1971. The areas given to Assam under the said Act were claimed by Meghalaya to be part of khasi and jayantia hills. There have been regular clashes between the two sides along the border. This has led to large scale displacement of local people as well as loss of life and property in the States. Several committees have been constituted so far on the issue and several rounds of talks have been held between the two States. But so far the result has been cipher.
The decision was taken during chief minister level talks on the border dispute between Assam and Meghalaya in Guwahati on Friday. The Regional Committees will submit their reports within 30 days. We have decided to set up 3 Regional Committees under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Ministers each from both Meghalaya and Assam to look into the matter of 6 areas of differences. The RC will make a joint visit and submit its report within 30 days, meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma said. He added: “We are united and committed to resolving our border issues with mutual respect, putting our people first and keeping the spirit of the North East alive. We are very happy that this meeting has been very constructive and positive, we have become very clear from both the Governments that we want to resolve the areas of differences and disputes between the two States, Sangma said.
