UMSAW KHWAN, Mar 28 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said that the second phase of the boundary talks between Meghalaya and Assam to resolve the six remaining areas of differences has remained stalled due to complexities in three areas of differences between the two neighbouring states.
“We are eager to resolve the pending dispute. It can be resolved at any point in time. I think Meghalaya is waiting to see if the other three areas are resolved together. We are working together to resolve all six areas mutually,” Sarma told reporters on the sidelines of a programme at the North Eastern Police Academy (NEPA) here in Meghalaya.
However, the Assam Chief Minister did not specify on these three complex areas.
The second phase of the talks include areas of differences over Block I, Psiar-Khanduli in West Jaintia Hills district. Block II, Borduar, Nongwah-Mawtamur and Deshdoomreah in Ri-Bhoi district and Langpih in West Khasi Hills district.
Stating that setting a timeframe to resolve these areas of differences is not prudent as it involves the sentiments of the people in those areas, the Assam Chief Minister hoped that a solution to the issue would be arrived at “sooner or later.”
In the first phase, six areas were resolved and a MoU signed to put at rest the differences in these areas. The six areas were Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pillangkata and Ratacheera.
Both Assam and Meghalaya adopted a give-and-take policy under which Meghalaya took control of 18.28 square km and Assam 18.51 km out of the total disputed area of 36.79 square km in these six areas.
Sarma said that the Survey of India is doing the demarcation in the six areas where MoU has been signed.
“Whatever we have signed in the presence of the Home Minister (Amit Shah) is binding on both the governments,” the Assam Chief Minister said.
(UNI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
