SHILLONG:
The second phase of Chief Minister (CM)-level border talks between Assam and Meghalaya on areas of disagreement will be held on Tuesday in Guwahati.
The meeting will be held at the State Guest House (Koinadora), Khanapara, at 11 a.m.
In the second phase, contentious areas like Khanduli and Psiar, Block I and Block II, Borduar, Langpih, Nongwah-Mawtamur, and Desh Doomreah will be discussed.
It may be mentioned that Blocks I and II are under the administrative control of Assam.
As per official records, in 1951, Blocks I and II (from the Jowai subdivision of the United Khasi-Jaintia Hills district) were tagged with the United Mikir and North Cachar Hills districts for administrative advantages.
There are twelve areas of difference between the two states, of which six have been resolved, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Meghalaya and Assam.
The first phase of talks, in which six areas with ‘less complications’ were taken up, was signed between the two states in New Delhi on March 29, 2022, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
These are Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pilangkata, and Ratacherra.
The members of the regional committees made 18 visits to these areas of difference, and 50 meetings were held at the grassroot level by the regional committees before the MoU was signed.
Also, apart from the Regional Committee meetings, the chief ministers of the two states had met seven times to resolve the boundary dispute.