Latest news with #AssamReorganisationAct
Time of India
3 days ago
- 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
4 days ago
- 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.
