Inter-State Boundary disputes: Centre deputes observers

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Worried over the nagging boundary disputes of Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram with Assam, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has deputed Joint Secretary-level officers as observers to study the facts and figures on the ground, and to report it to the Centre. The Central observers are already on their job.

According to sources, the Centre is committed to find the final solution to the boundary disputes of the four northeastern States with Assam by 2021.

Assam has 2,748-km inter-State borders with Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and West Bengal. The State has been bearing the brunt of border disputes with Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. And this has prompted the Centre to depute a joint secretary each as observer for Assam-Nagaland, Assam-Meghalaya, Assam Arunachal Pradesh and Assam-Mizoram boundary disputes. The Centre will take decisions based on the reports it will receive from each of the four ground observers.

The four neighbouring States engaging themselves in border skirmishes with Assam almost simultaneously, in all probability, is to draw the attention of the Central government and to register their claims over the Assam land they are encroaching upon, sources said.

Insofar as Assam-Mizoram border is concerned, Assam's stand is to adhere to the 1993 maps drawn by the Survey of India. However, Mizoram keeps claiming 509 sq km of forest reserve land falling in the Assam side as theirs. The two States had a meeting at Shillong in 2014 when both the parties agreed to maintain status quo. However, of late Mizoram has encroached upon Assam land in Cachar and Karimganj sectors in violation of the 'status quo' reached at the Shillong meet.

Cases on Assam-Nagaland and Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border disputes have been pending with the Supreme Court of India. Nagaland encroached upon vast areas of Assam land in Jorhat and Sivasagar districts. Now, the neighbouring State has encroached upon vast areas of Assam land in Doldoli Reserve Forest in Karbi Anglong district where it has already started issuing land pattas to their residents, besides starting construction works. The vicinity of Doldoli Reserve Forest has been tense for the past one week.

Apart from the disputed areas at Langpih at Boko in Kamrup district, Meghalaya has started fresh encroachment in the Dhronpara area also under Boko LAC. The Assam Police had to obstruct the encroachment.

Assam has been the victim of solution eluding its boundary disputes with Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram over the years.

In every such border skirmish, the fringe-dwelling Assamese people have to bear the brunt with their houses demolished or torched. This has prompted the State government to move the Centre seeking immediate solution to the nagging boundary disputes.

Also Read: 'Situation along inter-State boundary tense, but under control': Cachar SP Bhanwar Lal Meena