GUWAHATI:
The joint team of the 12 regional committees set up to inspect the ground situation in the disputed areas along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border will complete their field visit within August 30, and will submit a report on August 15, Assam border protection and development minister Atul Bora told reporters on August 11.
“Under the guidance of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the state government is working closely with the Arunachal Pradesh government for a peaceful, holistic and early resolution to the border disputes. To expedite the process of identification and early resolution of disputed areas, 12 regional committees have been constituted by both the states,” Bora said.
“The reports by the respective regional committees will be submitted to the chief ministers of both the states by September 15. Assam has an 800.1 km land dispute with Arunachal Pradesh in eight districts of the state and 12 districts of Arunachal Pradesh. The problems in three districts are serious while the difference in five other districts is negligible,” the minister said.
The minister informed that in 2007, Arunachal Pradesh had demanded a total of 1,119 sq km from Assam. Initially, the dispute was for 123 villages. But July 15 Namsai Declaration restricted the ‘disputed villages’ to 86 instead of 123.
“Of 37 villages, 28 villages which are within the constitutional boundary of Arunachal Pradesh will remain with Arunachal Pradesh. The location of six villages could not be found on the Assam side,” he added.
The meeting of the regional committee was held at Assam Administrative Staff College, Khanapara, in the presence of irrigation minister Ashok Singhal, education minister Ranoj Pegu, industries minister Bimal Bora, labour welfare minister Sanjay Kishan, principal secretary (border) GD Tripathy, deputy commissioners of eight districts of the state and other senior government officials.