SHILLONG:
The Centre will take a final decision on the roadmap to resolve the five-decade-long boundary dispute between Assam and Meghalaya after January 26, official sources said here in New Delhi.
This was decided after Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the national capital on Thursday evening, and submitted their reports based on the recommendations of the regional committees set up by both the states.
Shah assured to take up the issue after January 26 for a final settlement.
“Called on Hon’ble HM, @AmitShahji with HCM of Assam, @himantabiswa ji and
apprised him on the reports of the Regional Committees. He expressed happiness on
the initiative taken by both the States in the matter. MHA will examine the reports & we
will meet HM again post 26th Jan (sic),” tweeted Sangma on Thursday after the
meeting with the Union home minister.
Meanwhile, Sarma also tweeted “I along with HCM Meghalaya Sri @Sangma Conrad met Adarniya Griha Mantri Sri @AmitShah ji in New Delhi. We apprised Hon HM on the outcomes of discussions held between Assam & Meghalaya governments to resolve the border disputes amicably (sic).”
The areas of differences taken up for final settlement are Hahim, Gizang, Tarabari,
Boklapara, Khanapara-Pillingkata, and Ratacherra.
Exuding confidence over the outcome of the meeting, Sarma said that the joint efforts to
resolve the Assam-Meghalaya border row have started bearing fruit as 6 of the
12 areas of difference have been identified for resolution in the first phase.
Earlier, on January 19, Sangma had stated that apart from the historical facts, there is a
need to keep in mind the will of the people residing in the border areas before arriving at
any decision on the border issue.
“It is for this reason that the members of the three regional committees visited all the 36
villages which are disputed,” Sangma had said.
Sangma also said that it was important that both the states do not stick to their
respective positions else the way forward will not be be found.
It may be recalled that on January 12, Assam and Meghalaya had in principle, reached an agreement on border disputes on at least six places of difference, following reports submitted by their respective regional committees on January 4.
(With inputs from Guwahati, Delhi)