Biswanath, Oct 13: Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have set a two-month deadline to resolve outstanding boundary issues, with alternative land arrangements being considered in cases where disputes over village settlements and family-owned land prove difficult to settle.
The decision was taken at a joint meeting of the regional committees of the two states in Biswanath on Tuesday, attended by Assam Cabinet Minister and Regional Committee Chairman Keshab Mahanta, Biswanath district Guardian Minister and committee Vice-Chairman Ranoj Pegu, and Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet Minister and Regional Committee Chairman Balo Raja, along with legislators and senior officials.
Speaking to the press after the meeting, Mahanta said several stretches of the inter-state boundary were undisputed, but some locations continued to face minor issues, particularly where families lived in one state while their land fell within the territory of the other.
“Some areas have no disputes, while others have minor issues. There are instances where families live in Assam but their land falls in Arunachal Pradesh, or vice versa. These matters will be addressed through visits by district officials and discussions involving the respective MLAs. We want to resolve the issues within a month, but have set a two-month period,” Mahanta said.
He said commissioners, district administrations and legislators from both states would lead efforts to identify and resolve the outstanding issues during this period.
Mahanta acknowledged that some disputes could be more complicated, especially those involving established villages and family-owned land that either state might be reluctant to relinquish.
“In some cases, there may be old villages or land belonging to families that a state may not be willing to give up. In such situations, an alternative arrangement, including offering land at another location, may have to be considered. These matters will require further discussion by the regional committees. If necessary, the chief ministers of both states will take a final decision,” he said.
On the final demarcation of the inter-state boundary, Mahanta said the two state governments would take the necessary decisions and seek the Survey of India’s assistance in placing boundary pillars.
“The Survey of India would assess the boundary and guide the installation of the pillars once the outstanding issues had been resolved,” he said.
Raja described the discussions as constructive and expressed confidence that continued coordination between the two states would help settle the remaining disputes.
“There should be no further issues once the matters are resolved through discussions with the people concerned. The meetings had been delayed because of elections and other engagements in the respective states. However, the meeting has now taken place, and decisions have been taken in the interest of people on both sides,” Raja said.
He said the regional committees would continue working towards an amicable settlement.
Officials from Assam’s Lakhimpur and Biswanath districts and Arunachal Pradesh’s Papum Pare district also attended the meeting.