ASSAM-ARUNACHAL BORDER: Decision to complete joint border visit by August 31

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The 12 regional committees of Assam have decided to complete the joint visit of the disputed border areas with their Arunachal Pradesh counterparts by August 31. The regional committees have also decided to submit their reports to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma by September 15.

Returning from Mizoram yesterday, Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora chaired a meeting of the 12 regional committees of Assam in Guwahati today. Bora is also the chairman of five of the 12 regional committees of Assam. The chairmen of other regional committees – ministers Bimal Borah, Ranoj Pegu, Ashok Singhal and Sanjay Kishan – were also present at today's meeting. Another regional committee chairman Minister Pijush Hazarika could not attend the meeting as he is in New Delhi.

Talking to the media after the meeting, Minister Atul Bora said, "Under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, we are on the right path to solve the boundary issues with the neighbouring states. In the past two days, we have had fruitful discussions with Mizoram. The Namsai Declaration signed by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Pema Khandu on July 15 is a historic step."

Bora said, "Both Assam and Arunachal Pradesh formed 12 regional committees. Border issues between Assam and its neighbouring states are as old as the carving out of the neighbouring states from Assam. Unsolved boundary issues make fringe dwellers on either side suffer. All the 12 regional committees met today. We have decided our roadmap for joint boundary visit with our Arunachal Pradesh counterparts."

Bora said, "Assam shares an 804.1-km boundary with Arunachal Pradesh touching eight districts. Five of the eight districts have few boundary issues with Arunachal Pradesh. Three of our districts have issues to sort out with the neighbouring state. We will visit 86 villages bordering Arunachal Pradesh with our Aruanchal Pradesh counterparts. Points that will carry weightage during the joint visit are the desire of the fringe dwellers to side with, administrative convenience, geographical locations, demographic patterns etc."

Bora said that after the joint visits and submission of the reports by the regional committees of the two states to their respective chief ministers, Sarma and Khandu are to sit for a one-to-one meeting.

"We are hopeful of success with Arunachal Pradesh by following the model that worked wonders in solving boundary issues with Meghalaya," Bora added.

Also Read:   Meeting on Assam-Arunachal border issues held at Joypur IB in Naharkatia

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