Mizoram Government asks Centre to review inter-state border issue with Assam

GUWAHATI: The government of Mizoram had written a letter to the Central government asking the latter to review the inter-state border dispute with Assam. The letter was sent on December 15 last year.

The information was given by Home Minister Lalchamliana at the Assembly in response to a query by Congress legislature party leader Zodintluanga Ralte.

The government is trying to figure out a solution to the border dispute at Zophai area near Bairabi town.

Last year, the NESO chairman Samuel Jyrwa said that the students’ body of the Northeast does not have the power resolve the inter-state boundary disputes that exist among the various States of the region, but it can only urge the governments to settle this vexed problems.

He said that it is the responsibility of the State governments to resolve the dispute.

“But the dangerous trend is that people living along the areas on Assam boundaries with Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Meghalaya are not Assamese but are other inhabitants,” Jyrwa said.

“In Langpih the people who are causing trouble are Nepalis protected by the Assam Police,” Jyrwa said.

The NESO chairman also said that it will write to the respective State governments like it had done on several past occasions to solve the boundary dispute between Assam and the other northeastern States, including Meghalaya.

In 2018, Parliamentary Affairs Industry & Commerce Chandramohan Patowary had revealed that altogether 843.5719 sq km of Assam land are being encroached upon by neighbouring States. Patowary was replying to a question raised by AGP legislator Ramendra Nr Kalita. Patowary was giving the reply on behalf of border protection and development department. Patowary said that the DCs and SPs concerned have been instructed to make those areas encroachment free. Patowary further stated that the border dispute cases with Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh are pending with the Supreme Court while government-level discussions are on with Meghalaya and Mizoram to resolve similar issues.