The governments of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have signed an agreement to resolve the decades-old border dispute between the two states. The agreement was signed by the two states’ chief ministers – Himanta Biswa Sarma and Pema Khandu – in New Delhi in the presence of Union home minister Amit Shah.
According to NDTV, officials said the states have decided to resolve the dispute in 123 villages. Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804.1-km-long border.
Both Shah and Khandu called the agreement “historic”, the channel reported. Sarma said it was “big and successful” moment.
According to The Indian Express, the two states have agreed to suggestions made by 12 regional committees from both states, which had been formed last year. “According to the MoU, the state governments agree that no new claim area or village will be added in future beyond these 123 villages. It also states that both governments “agree to effectively prevent any new encroachment in the border areas”, and agree that the MoU is “full and final” in respect to the 123 villages,” the newspaper reported.
“We are witness to a historic moment today. The Local Commission report of 1972 remained disputed at various levels, sometimes at the level of the government, sometimes in the Supreme Court,” Shah said. “By accepting the report, the two states have ended the dispute over the 800 km of boundary…. This is a huge achievement.”
On the details of the agreement, The Indian Express reported:
“Of 71 villages over which an understanding has been reached, one village from Arunachal Pradesh will be included in Assam, 10 villages will continue to be in Assam, and 60 villages from Assam will be included in Arunachal Pradesh.
“Of the remaining 52 villages, the village boundary of 49 is to be finalised by the regional committees in next six months, while three villages inside the IAF bombing range will require rehabilitation,” the Assam government said in a statement.”
Source : The Wire