GUWAHATI: The Chief Minister of Assam  Himanta Biswa Sarma and the Chief Minister of Meghalaya Conrad Kongkal Sangma are scheduled to meet today, Mary 24, to hold further discussions on resolving border disputes between the Assam and Meghalaya  in six remaining areas.

According to officials, the Chief Ministers of both States are also likely to visit the disputed areas in the future as a sign of goodwill.

Meghalaya was set up  as a distinct State from Assam in 1972 after contesting the Assam Reorganisation Act of 1971, which resulted in disagreements at 12 locations along the two States' 884.9 km-long border.

Meghalaya Chief Minster Conrad Kongkal Sangma stated that his top goal upon taking office as Chief Minister in May 2021 was to settle long-standing boundary conflicts with adjoining States. 

Three Regional Committees were subsequently set up in August 2021 to address the problems gradually.

The regional committees submitted their recommendations, which the two Chief Ministers delivered to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi. On March 29, 2022, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was then signed to settle disagreements in six of the twelve locations.

Assam was given complete control of 18.51 sq km while Meghalaya was given 18.28 sq km of territory under the terms of the agreement, which stated that 36.79 sq km of the disputed area will be settled in the first phase.

A Historical overview of Border Disputes between Assam and Meghalaya: The border disputes between Assam and Meghalaya are primarily centered around the demarcation of boundaries between the two states in certain regions. Both Assam and Meghalaya are states located in northeastern India and share a border with each other.

The main areas of contention include the districts of Goalpara and Kamrup in Assam and the areas of Ri-Bhoi and West Khasi Hills in Meghalaya. These disputes have their roots in historical and administrative complexities dating back to the time of British colonial rule in India.

One of the primary causes of the border disputes is the difference in interpretations of historical records and agreements regarding the demarcation of boundaries. The demarcation process becomes complex due to the presence of diverse ethnic groups, local communities, and indigenous tribes living in these border areas.

Efforts have been made by the central and state governments to resolve the border disputes between Assam and Meghalaya. Various committees, boards, and commissions have been formed to study the issue, gather data, and recommend solutions. However, a definitive resolution to the disputes is yet to be achieved.

Legal avenues have also been pursued, and cases related to the border disputes are pending in the Supreme Court of India. The court's involvement is expected to provide a final verdict based on legal and historical evidence, aiming to settle the boundary issues once and for all.

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