Priority to local views in phase 2 of Assam-Meghalaya boundary talks

Resentment among stakeholders in six disputed sectors resolved in the first phase is said to have made the Meghalaya government cautious

The Meghalaya government has decided to prioritise the concerns and opinions of the local residents for resolving the remaining six disputed sectors along the State’s 885 km border with Assam.

Resentment among villagers affected by the March 29 boundary deal for six of 12 disputed sectors taken up in the first phase is believed to have impacted the decision.

Explained | The Assam-Meghalaya boundary dispute resolution

The second phase of talks was initiated by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad K. Sangma amid protests from villagers who felt let down by the boundary deal. Most of these villagers are tribal people who would end up in Assam when the boundary is redrawn formally.

The boundary dispute between the two States dates back to 1972 when Meghalaya was carved out of Assam.

“We are committed to resolving the long-pending boundary dispute once and for all. We will try to settle the dispute by giving priority to the consent and will of the people residing along the border,” Meghalaya’s Home Minister, Lakhmen Rymbui said.

He admitted the task was difficult owing to “a lot of factors”.