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Hindustan Times
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Assam, Meghalaya begin installing boundary in Hahim to resolve border dispute
Shillong: Administrative officials from Assam and Meghalaya on Tuesday said that boundary pillars are being constructed in the Hahim area under Assam's Kamrup district, as part of efforts to resolve the border dispute that dates back to 1972, when Meghalaya was carved out of Assam as a separate state. After decades of deadlock, a breakthrough came in March 2022, when Assam and Meghalaya signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi. (HT Photo) The pillars are being constructed along the riverbanks of Gijang and Tirchang—passing through villages such as Umshek (Mathapota), Maspara, Malapara, Ranighar, Salpara, Thutia Bazaar near Hahim market, and finally to Rangsapara after Athiabari, which belongs to Meghalaya. This follows a dialogue under the joint leadership of Assam and Meghalaya chief ministers Himanta Biswa Sarma and Conrad K. Sangma, respectively, on June 2. Over the years, the two states have held 32 rounds of official meetings, attempting to resolve 12 areas of difference spanning over 2,700 sq km. After decades of deadlock, a breakthrough came in March 2022, when Assam and Meghalaya signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi in the presence of union home minister Amit Shah, resolving six of the 12 disputed sectors. During the second round of talks held this month, both CMs agreed to begin erecting border pillars in the six resolved sectors --- Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pilangkata, and Ratacherra --- by August 15, 2025. 'This is not just a concrete pillar; it's a symbol of peace, clarity and a better future for border communities. We are committed to completing this phase well before Independence Day, as per the commitment of both chief ministers,' a senior official from the survey team said. Also Read: Assam-Meghalaya border tensions rise amid fresh land dispute An official, requesting anonymity, said that field units from both the states will soon commence parallel constructions in the Gijang-adjacent areas. 'For decades, we lived with confusion—of belonging to two states at once. Today, we witness history being written in stone,' an elderly resident from Rangthali village said. However, the six unresolved areas — Block I, Block II, Langpih, Deshdoomreah, Khanduli, and Nongwah-Mawtamur—remain flashpoints, particularly due to ethnic sensitivities, historical claims, and lack of ground-level enforcement after the border between the two states was demarcated under the Assam Reorganisation Act, 1971.
Hindustan Times
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Assam-Meghalaya border tensions rise amid fresh land dispute
Tensions flared yet again along the Assam-Meghalaya border on Wednesday, after a crowd of over 400 villagers from Lapangap and nearby areas in West Jaiñtia Hills in Meghalaya, backed by student unions and pressure groups, stormed a plantation site maintained by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) of Assam. A damaged wooden-structure in Block 1 of Assam-Meghalaya border (HT Photo) Accusing KAAC of illegally encroaching into Meghalaya territory, the protesters dismantled wooden sheds and uprooted hundreds of saplings, triggering a confrontation that escalated when Assam Police fired five rounds of tear gas. Two makeshift structures in the fields were also reportedly set on fire by Karbi locals. District SP Chemphang Syrti said, 'A crowd of around 400 entered the plantation area and uprooted the saplings. Both administrations attempted to contain and disperse the crowd. The situation is now under control.' The incident occurred in Block I, a long-contested area along the 884.9-km Assam-Meghalaya boundary. West Jaiñtia Hills deputy commissioner Abhinav Kumar Singh confirmed that the plantation was carried out by KAAC 'without any prior coordination' and despite ongoing peace efforts. 'We had advised restraint as a peace meeting was scheduled at Tahpat village in the morning. But the Assam side didn't turn up, prompting villagers to take matters into their own hands,' Singh said. 'The plantation has now been halted, and police along with three border magistrates are stationed to monitor the situation.' The protest has found strong backing from civil society and students' groups. A Khasi Students' Union (KSU) leader warned, 'This is a message. We will defend our land if the state cannot. Despite tear gas, we didn't retreat.' Neilkee Mukhim, general secretary of the Jaiñtia Students' Union (JSU), accused the Karbi side of violating a 2023 agreement to maintain the status quo. 'They resumed planting despite prior understanding. Today's action was necessary.' The protest comes just weeks after the second chief minister-level round of border talks was held in Guwahati on June 2 between Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. This meeting was long delayed—originally planned following the first round of talks on May 17, 2023, where both leaders agreed to jointly visit disputed sectors including Block I and Block II. But that momentum was shattered by the Mukroh firing on November 22, 2023, in which six people were killed—one of them a forest guard—after a truck allegedly carrying illegal timber was intercepted. The killings, which took place in another part of Block I, triggered widespread outrage and unrest, putting all dialogue on hold. The border issue between Assam and Meghalaya traces back to 1972, when Meghalaya was carved out of Assam as a separate state. The border was demarcated under the Assam Reorganisation Act, 1971—a framework Meghalaya has contested ever since. Over the years, the two states have held 32 rounds of official meetings, attempting to resolve 12 areas of difference spanning over 2,700 sq km. After decades of deadlock, a breakthrough came in March 2022, when Assam and Meghalaya signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, resolving six of the 12 disputed sectors. Under this MoU, out of 36.79 sq km of contested land, Assam retained 18.46 sq km and Meghalaya received 18.33 sq km—a near-equal division hailed as a model for cooperative federalism. However, the six unresolved areas—including Block I, Block II, Langpih, Deshdoomreah, Khanduli, and Nongwah-Mawtamur—remain flashpoints, particularly due to ethnic sensitivities, historical claims, and lack of ground-level enforcement. During the second round of talks held this month, both CMs agreed to begin erecting border pillars in the six resolved sectors by August 15, 2025. Further discussions will continue through regional committees headed by cabinet ministers of both states. Crucially, both states have also agreed to bring science to the table. The North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) has been tasked with conducting a high-resolution satellite imaging survey to map forest boundaries, natural drainage lines, and settlement patterns across the disputed zones. This neutral data will serve as a scientific basis for further demarcation, help mitigate future conflicts, and feed into broader environmental and infrastructural planning. 'Once the NESAC survey is complete within three months, we'll engage technical experts like IIT Roorkee to analyse the data and suggest actionable solutions,' CM Sangma said after the meeting. 'It's not just about border lines—this is about understanding the terrain, the people, and the ecosystem.' The talks also saw a tentative agreement to jointly commission the Kulsi multi-purpose hydroelectric and irrigation project, with both states pledging to consult local communities before implementation. Sangma described the initiative as 'a symbol of Assam-Meghalaya friendship,' with potential for boosting power generation, irrigation, and tourism in both states. But as Wednesday's unrest at Lapangap proves, ground-level sentiment often moves faster than policy promises. A fresh round of peace talks between Lapangap and Tahpat village councils is now scheduled for Thursday. Whether this results in genuine de-escalation—or simply paves the way for another confrontation—will depend on how quickly the decisions made in Guwahati translate into action on the ground. Even after 32 meetings and two chief minister-level rounds of talks, the road to peace along the Assam-Meghalaya border remains perilous. Science, diplomacy, and community participation are all now in play—but as Lapangap has reminded everyone, so is defiance.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Assam, Meghalaya to set up border pillars in five areas
1 2 Guwahati: In a significant development towards settling over half a century old border disputes between Assam and Meghalaya, chief ministers of both states agreed on Monday to install border pillars across five of the 12 areas, where the disputes were resolved in 2022, before the coming Independence Day. At a joint address to the media here by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad Sangma, Sarma said in the sixth area at Pilingkata, some differences in interpretation have arisen which the district magistrates from both states would address soon and "both will sit down again and we'll try to resolve that dispute." "Also, regarding other six unresolved disputed sites, we have decided to keep talking and keep working and we will see that these also get resolved within a short time. However, we have not laid any time frame for that. We want to discuss in an environment of mutual trust, friendship and confidence," Sarma said. Sangma added, "Problems will always be there. Challenges will always be there. What is important is that we must discuss and try to find solutions to the problems. Today is another example of that commitment that is shown both by the Assam govt and the Govt of Meghalaya as stated by the honourable chief minister of Assam." Sangma said, "We had signed an historic agreement and MoU for the six areas of differences (March, 2022) and now that we are very close to actually finalizing the pillars. Small issues are there which need to be resolved which we have discussed in detail today. And I'm happy to inform you that most likely by the August 15, we will be able to resolve and finalize the actual pillars in the five areas of differences. This will be a major major milestone and another strong testament of the friendship between Assam govt and the Govt of Meghalaya. " The border dispute between the two states spans 884.9kms, which had 12 contested areas. The March 2022 agreement, signed in New Delhi before Union home minister Amit Shah, addressed six locations. From the 36.79 sqkms of disputed territory addressed initially, Assam received 18.46 sqkms, while Meghalaya got 18.33 sqkms. Meghalaya was formed in 1972 through separation from Assam. Since then, it has contested the Assam Reorganisation Act, 1971, which Assam considers its legitimate border.
NDTV
02-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Border Pillars To Be Placed In 5 "Disputed Areas" Along Assam-Meghalaya Boundary
Guwahati: In a definitive step towards the resolution of longstanding boundary differences between Assam and Meghalaya, the two state governments on Monday decided to erect border pillars in five of the disputed areas by Independence Day, the chief ministers of the two states said. These are among the six disputed areas, out of the total 12, for resolving which both two states had signed an agreement in March 2022, they said. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad Sangma were addressing a joint press conference here after a meeting on various inter-state issues. "Out of six areas for which agreement was signed, we will try to erect the border pillars in five of these areas by August 15," Sarma said. "There is some difference in one of these five areas. Meghalaya wants a village that had been allotted to us, but they have given the assurance that the same amount of land will be transferred to us. We have asked for one week's time to consider and inform them," he added. On the sixth area of dispute, Sarma said it relates to the Pilingkata area and there is some "difference of interpretation". "The deputy commissioners of both states will sit and discuss it," he added. Mr Sangma said the small issues are being resolved and border pillars in the five areas are expected to be erected by Independence Day. "The resolution of the border dispute in a phased manner is a major milestone in our relations," the Meghalaya chief minister said. Mr Sarma added that both states have decided to take forward discussions on the other six disputed sites, but no time frame has been fixed for completing it. On the 55MW Kulsi multi-purpose project along the inter-state border, they said the two states have decided in principle to work on it together. "Kulsi is a win-win project for both states. We have decided to work on it together with the condition that people living in that area will be taken into confidence," Sangma said. Mr Sarma added that both states will work together on the hydel project, while Assam government will take forward the irrigation part of this multi-purpose project which will benefit large parts of Kamrup and Golapara districts in the downstream areas. Assam and Meghalaya have a longstanding dispute in 12 areas along the 884.9-km-long inter-state border. The two states had signed an agreement in March 2022 in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi towards ending the disputes in six areas. Out of 36.79 sq km of disputed areas taken up for settlement in the first phase at six places, Assam got 18.46 sq km and Meghalaya received 18.33 sq km. Meghalaya was carved out of Assam in 1972 and has since then challenged the Assam Reorganisation Act, 1971, which is recognised by Assam as its border.
