Assam, Meghalaya CMs apprise Amit Shah of formula to resolve border dispute

On Wednesday, the cabinets of both states approved the ‘give-and-take’ formula to sort out the five-decades-old border dispute in a phased manner.

Updated on: Jan 21, 2022, 04:47:46 IST

By Utpal Parashar, GUWAHATI

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Chief ministers of Assam and Meghalaya on Thursday met Union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi and apprised him of the ‘give-and-take’ formula arrived at by both northeastern states to address the decades-old border dispute.

Union home minister Amit Shah holds a meeting with Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma on Assam- Meghalaya Border dispute issue, in New Delhi on Thursday. (ANI)

After the meeting, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad Sangma took to social media to share updates of the meeting.

“I along with Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma met with home minister Amit Shahji in New Delhi. We apprised the home minister on the outcomes of discussions held between Assam and Meghalaya governments to resolve the border disputes amicably. We are grateful for his guidance,” Sarma said in a Twitter post.

Also read | Assam, Meghalaya clear ‘give and take’ formula to resolve border dispute

“Called on home minister Amit Shahji with chief minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma and apprised him on the reports of the regional committees. He expressed happiness on the initiative taken by both the states in the matter,” Sangma tweeted.

“Ministry of home affairs will examine the reports and we will meet the home minister again after January 26,” Sangma added.

On Wednesday, the cabinets of both states approved the ‘give-and-take’ formula to sort out the five-decades-old border dispute in a phased manner. As per the formula, in the first phase, six of the 12 disputed areas will be resolved.

Deliberations between both states, including at the chief ministerial-level, have been going on since last year. Recently, regional committees of both states submitted reports on the six areas decided to be resolved in the first phase.

The six areas that will be taken up for final settlement are Hahim, Gizang, Tarabari, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pilingkata and Ratacherra. The other six areas, where the disputes are more complicated, will be taken up later.

On Tuesday, during an interaction with political parties in Assam, Sarma informed that as per the recommendations of the regional committees, Assam will get 18.51 sq km of the total 36.8 sq km disputed area while the remaining 18.29 sq km will go to Meghalaya.

He also said that as per agreements between both states, once the border disputes in all the 12 areas are resolved, Meghalaya will not be able to make any further claims on Assam territory.

Meghalaya was carved out of Assam in 1972 and both states share a 733-km boundary. Over the years, there have been several skirmishes between various communities inhabiting the border areas.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.