Agreement between Assam and Meghalaya to end border conflict

Agreement between Assam and Meghalaya to end border conflict

Part of: Prelims and GS II – State Relations 

Context: Assam and Meghalaya have partially resolved a 50-year-old border dispute in six of the 12 sectors along their 885-km boundary through signing of an agreement.

Key takeaways 

• The agreement was based on a draft resolution signed between the two States on January 29.
• The six disputed sectors are Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pillangkata and Ratacherra under the Kamrup, Kamrup (Metro) and Cachar districts of Assam and the West Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi and East Jaintia Hills districts of Meghalaya.
• In June 2021, the two States had adopted a “give-and-take” policy to start the process of resolving the boundary dispute by constituting three regional committees each.
  • The draft resolution, prepared on the basis of the recommendations of the regional panels, proposed dividing the disputed 36.79 sq. km land in the six areas of difference between the two States.
• Meanwhile, people in several villages in the disputed sectors protested the boundary agreement. 
  • They claimed they were not given enough opportunities by the regional committees to present their cases

Do you know?

• Apart from Meghalaya, Assam has boundary disputes with Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland. 
• All these States, two as Union Territories initially, were carved out of Assam between 1963 and 1972.

News Source: TH