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Assam-Meghalaya border dispute partially resolved

  • Posted By
    10Pointer
  • Categories
    Polity & Governance
  • Published
    31st Mar, 2022

Context

With the signing of a “historic agreement”, Assam and Meghalaya have partially resolved a 50-year-old border dispute in six of the 12 sectors along their 885-km boundary.

What is in the agreement?

  • The “historic” agreement provides for a closure in six disputed sectors that were taken up for resolution in the first phase.
  • The agreement was based on a draft resolution signed between the two States on January 29.
  • The six disputed sectors are Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pillangkata and Ratacherra under the Kamrup, Kamrup (Metro) and Cachar districts of Assam and the West Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi and East Jaintia Hills districts of
  • While Assam will get 18.51 sq. km of the disputed areas, Meghalaya will get the remaining 18.28 sq.km.

Background 

  • Meghalaya was carved out of Assam as a separate state in 1972 but the new state had challenged the Assam Reorganisation Act, 1971, leading to dispute in 12 locations in the border areas.
    • These include the areas of Upper Tarabari, Gazang reserve forest, Hahim, Langpih, Borduar, Boklapara, Nongwah, Matamur, Khanapara-Pilangkata, Deshdemoreah Block I and Block II, Khanduli and Retacherra.

Other disputes

  • Apart from Meghalaya, Assam has boundary disputes with Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland.
  • All these States, two as Union Territories initially, were carved out of Assam between 1963 and 1972.

About Langpih district

  • A major point of contention between Assam and Meghalaya is the district of Langpih in West Garo Hills bordering the Kamrup district of Assam.
    • Langpih was part of the Kamrup district of Assam during the British colonial period but after India's Independence in 1947; it became part of the Garo Hills and Meghalaya.
  • Another point of contention is the Mikir Hills, which Assam considers to be its part.
    • Meghalaya has questioned Blocks I and II of the Mikir Hills, now Karbi Anglong region, being part of Assam.
    • Meghalaya says these were parts of erstwhile United Khasi and Jaintia Hills districts.

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