GUWAHATI, Jan 18: Assam is likely to concede half of its claimed areas along the disputed border with Meghalaya, according to a report finalised by the joint committees of the two states formed to look into the issue.
The committees have also set a time-frame for implementing the recommendations including gaining legislative approval for a Constitutional Amendment to re-draw the state boundaries within one year.
Out of 36.79 sq km disputed area taken up for settlement in the first phase, Assam will get 18.51sq km while Meghalaya will get 18.28 sq km, according to the final recommendations given by the three regional committees formed by the two states to look into six disputed border stretches.
According to the final recommendations, Assam will get full control of 11.94 sq km of the disputed land in Kamrup while the remaining 11.36 sq km will go to Meghalaya.
In Kamrup Metropolitan, Assam will keep 1.79 sq km of land and Meghalaya will get 0.50 sq km, while in Cachar, Assam will have 4.78 sq km under its full control against 6.42 sq km for Meghalaya.
A presentation was made on the findings and recommendations of the regional committees during a meeting convened by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma with political parties of the state on Tuesday.
Representatives from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), AGP, United Peoples’ Party Liberal (UPPL) and Opposition parties such as Congress, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) and CPI-M attended the meeting. Cabinet ministers and senior government officials were also present.
“A decision was arrived at and accordingly, some portion of Pillangkata (along the Kamrup Metro-Ri-Bhoi interstate boundary), small portion of Boklapara which falls in my constituency and some portion of Lampi (Langpih) in Kamrup district will be given away to Meghalaya,” Following the all-party meeting, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leader and West Guwahati MLA, Ramendra Narayan Kalita told media persons after the meeting.
He said that these areas have had disputes for the past five decades and despite several meetings during the period, no breakthrough was arrived.
“Our efforts to resolve the Assam-Meghalaya border row have started bearing fruits as six of the 12 areas of difference have been identified for resolution in the first phase. During an interaction, briefed representatives of all political parties on the progress made so far,” the Assam chief minister later wrote on Twitter.
“A roadmap for amicable settlement has been prepared based on recommendations of three regional committees with representatives from both the states. We’ve reached this stage after several rounds of CM-level talks on the matter,” the chief minister said.
Demand for special
Assembly session
Meanwhile, Assam Congress Legislature Party leader Debabrata Saikia, who was part of the meeting, said that further deliberations on the disputed inter-state border issues were required in a special Assembly session.
“Such a give-and-take policy requires further deliberations, and not just among a few representatives of political parties. So we demand a special Assembly session to discuss the issues before taking a final call,” he told reporters later.
AIUDF MLA from Mankachar (South Salmara), Aminul Islam also toed the Congress line, saying that the matter needs to be deliberated upon further before arriving at a “compromise formula”.
A presentation was also made before the party representatives at the meeting.
Speaking to media persons, Assam Cabinet minister Ranoj Pegu said the representatives of the political parties were apprised of the understanding reached between the two states in the six areas.
Pressure groups to visit
six border areas soon
Pressure groups from Assam including the All Assam Students Union, All Bodo Students Union, All Assam Rabha Students Union, Garo Students Union (Assam) and representatives from Gorkha groups would pay a visit to the six “less complicated” areas on the Assam-Meghalaya border.
“We have expressed our desire to visit the areas soon, and accordingly, the chief minister has directed the respective administration in the districts to facilitate the visit to the border areas,” AASU chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharjya told reporters after interacting with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at the State Guest House in Koinadhora here on Tuesday.
The chief minister apprised the students unions of the harmonious talks with Meghalaya that led to the decision of finding amicable solutions to the dispute in six “less complicated” areas.
During his interaction with the students’ bodies, Himanta sought cooperation in the mutually agreed principles as part of the endeavour to bring a permanent and lasting solution to the decades-old border dispute between the two neighbouring states.
(With PTI inputs)
