Current Affairs 2022: Assam Meghalaya Border Pact

A 50-year-old border dispute between Assam and Meghalaya has been partially resolved in six of the twelve sectors along their 885-kilometre border.

Assam Meghalaya Border Pact

In the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah the chief ministers of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Meghalaya, Conrad K Sangma signed a historic agreement that paves the way for the resolution of a border dispute that has lasted more than five decades between the two states. It is believed that this agreement effectively ended nearly 70% of the total dispute. 

Background of the Assam-Meghalaya Dispute

Assam was undivided during the British rule, and it included the modern-day states of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Mizoram. Meghalaya was created in 1972, with its borders delineated in accordance with the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act of 1969. However, the state has maintained a different interpretation of the border ever since. As a result, the newly formed state of Assam challenged the Assam Reorganisation Act 1971, resulting in a dispute in 12 locations along the state's border.

Some of these disagreements arise from suggestions made by a 1951 commission headed by then Assam chief minister Gopinath Bordoloi, who was tasked with examining the situation. A 2008 research paper from the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses refers to the Bordoloi Committee's recommendation that parts of the Jaintia Hills (Meghalaya) be transferred to the Mikir Hill (Karbi Anglong) district of Assam, as well as portions of the Garo Hills in Meghalaya, be transferred to the Goalpara district of Assam. The 1969 Act is based on these proposals, which Meghalaya rejects, arguing that these lands were once part of the Khasi–Jaintia Hills and hence do not belong to the state of Meghalaya. In contrast, Assam claims that Meghalaya lacks the necessary documentation to demonstrate that these areas were historically part of the state of Meghalaya.

There have been previous attempts to resolve the boundary dispute, but none have been successful. Under the leadership of then Assam chief minister Hiteswar Saikia and then Meghalaya chief minister Captain WA Sangma, an official committee to settle the problem was established in 1985, which was chaired by former Chief Justice of India Y V Chandrachud. A solution, on the other hand, could not be found.

The Resolution

A 50-year-old border dispute between Assam and Meghalaya has been partially resolved in six of the twelve sectors along their 885-kilometre border.

Recently, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad K. Sangma signed a "historic" agreement for the closure of six disputed sectors that had been taken up for resolution in the first phase of the conflict resolution process. The agreement was signed in New Delhi in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The six disputed sectors are Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pillangkata and Ratacherra, which are located in the Assam districts of Kamrup, Kamrup (Metro), and Cachar and the Meghalaya districts of West Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi, and East Jaintia Hills.

In June 2021, the two states agreed to implement a ’give-and-take’ policy to begin the process of resolving the boundary dispute by establishing three regional committees in each of their respective states..

While Assam will receive 18.51 square kilometres of the disputed territory, Meghalaya will receive the remaining 18.28 square kilometres.

Way Ahead

The delineation and demarcation of the boundary by the Survey of India will be the next step, which will take place in the presence of representatives from both the states It is possible that the process take several months.

Officials stated that the six areas chosen for the study did not have significant differences and were, therefore, easier to resolve, and as a result, they were included in the first phase. "The remaining six areas are more complex, and it is possible that they will take longer to resolve," said a government official in state government.

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About the Author

Yash Singhal, an IIM student, is fond of analysing various developments happening all around the globe and shares his views on the topics kept hidden from prime time debates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: The views expressed in this article are solely the author’s own and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha.