GUWAHATI:
The final settlement of the inter-state border dispute between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh is almost finalised as a 25-member team from Assam led by Border Protection and Development Minister, Atul Bora, held a day-long meeting with Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on the recommendations of the regional committees at Banquet Hall in Itanagar on October 31.
The meeting finalised the deal which is likely to be signed between Khandu and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma by the end of November this year. However, Charaideo is still a bone of contention as the regional committees are yet to conclude it despite four sittings.
“The decades-old pending issue of Arunachal-Assam inter-state boundary row will be resolved once and for all, probably by the end of November. Today’s meeting can be termed as the penultimate one in the series of meetings held between the two states after the historic Namsai Declaration,” Khandu said after the meeting.
“One more meeting is to be held between me and my Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma for a final agreement and permanent solution. Both of us are determined to resolve all our differences by the end of November,” he stated.
Khandu informed that following the Namsai Declaration, 12 regional committees were formed headed by a Cabinet minister from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. These committees jointly visited the disputed areas, took feedback from people of both sides and submitted their reports to their respective state governments.
“Today we discussed these reports district-wise in depth. I am happy that all reports are positive in effect and the committees of both the states have sincerely and jointly worked to find a permanent solution to this boundary issue,” Khandu said.
“If there is a strong political will, no issue can remain unresolved for decades,” he said while expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their motivation and for being the guiding force in ensuring smooth communication between the two neighbour states to resolve the boundary row out of court.
“I have to especially thank Himanta Biswa Sarma for personally stepping out to resolve the boundary row not only with Arunachal Pradesh but with all other northeastern states that share boundaries with Assam,” Khandu said.
“The love and cooperation of the people of Assam always inspire me to work with zeal and spirit to resolve border issues. We are determined to resolve the border issues for peace and harmony between the loving people of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh,” Khandu added.
Briefing reporters about the outcome of the meeting, Assam minister Atul Bora said, “The outcome of the meeting is positive. We had a fruitful discussion. The next and final meeting will be held at chief minister-level at the end of November to finalise the deal.”
“Many issues we have already settled during Namsai Declaration on July 15. The regional committees have already submitted their recommendations to their respective chief ministers. Now just the final deal to be signed, but there was no consensus on the dispute in Charaideo district. The regional committee held the fourth round of discussions, however, there was no final decision,” he added.
The meeting was attended by seven ministers of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam ministers Keshab Mahanta, Jayanta Malla Baruah, Sanjoy Kishan, Bimal Borah, MLAs Ranjit Dutta and Bolin Chetia and chairmen of all 12 regional committees.
Arunachal Pradesh chief secretary Dharmendra, Ministry of Home Affairs (North East) officer AK Mishra, Assam’s border protection and development department commissioner and secretary GD Tripathi, DCs of concerned districts and senior departmental officers of both the states were also present in the meeting.