Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is expected to meet his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday here to discuss the vexed inter-state boundary dispute, officials said on Thursday.
This will be the first official meeting between the two Chief Ministers of both the neighbouring states following their “unofficial discussions” regarding the issue.
Sarma, who will be accompanied by senior officials from Assam, and will be meeting his Meghalaya counterpart at the State’s Cabinet room to work out a “long-term” solution to the disputes.
The forthcoming meeting between the two Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya is significant as Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a meeting with the North Eastern States’ Chief Ministers on Saturday in Shillong to draw a roadmap to resolve the vexed boundary disputes among the North Eastern States.
Assam has boundary disputes not only with Meghalaya, but with other neighbouring states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh stretching over decades creating unrest in the border areas.
“The Union Home Minister had desired that before the 75th year Independence of the country, all these issues not only with Meghalaya and Assam but Assam and other states also should be resolved. It will be our endeavour to resolve this within that time-frame. However, it all depend on how the talks move forward,” Sangma said.
“We are of the view that with the new leadership in Assam now having a very positive mindset, we shall be able to move forward and try to find an amicable solution to the dispute,” Sangma voiced optimism.
In the past, Meghalaya had submitted documents and maps on its claims to the 12 sectors/areas of Upper Tarabari, Gizang Reserve Forest, Hahim, Langpih, Borduar, Boklapara, Nongwah-Matamur, Khanapara- Pillangkata, Deshdemoreah, Block I and Block II, Khanduli-Psiar and Ratacherra.
The total area of difference is 2,765.14 square km, of which Blocks I and II cover 1,583.42 square km.
The Meghalaya Assembly had in March 2011 passed a resolution to urge the central government to constitute a Boundary Commission to re-examine and redefine the inter-state boundary between the two states.
