Guwahati, Assam: In a significant development addressing the long-standing border dispute between Assam and Meghalaya, the first boundary pillar marking the inter-state boundary has been successfully erected. This initiative, part of the on-ground implementation of the 2022 agreement, aims to bring clarity and stability to areas previously mired in ambiguity and tension. While the specific location of the erected pillar remains undisclosed, the move signals a crucial stride towards resolving the decades-old territorial disagreements.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a post on X, highlighted the importance of these “pillars of clarity and peace,” stating they would usher in better governance in “once grey areas.” He underscored the historical context of the dispute, noting that a significant portion of the boundary remained undefined when Meghalaya was carved out of Assam in 1972, often leading to chaos and friction between the two states.
Sarma further elaborated on the 2022 agreement, signed under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He proudly announced that six out of the twelve disputed areas have now been resolved, with the erection of this first pillar being a tangible outcome of that historic accord. The Chief Minister emphasized that these pillars would enhance harmony by providing both the public and administration with exact clarity on jurisdictional lines, allowing governance to flourish in these previously undefined zones. He also tagged his Meghalaya counterpart, Conrad Sangma, in his post, indicating continued collaboration.
The two Chief Ministers had previously announced on June 2 that border pillars would be set up in five of the disputed areas by Independence Day. Regarding the sixth area covered by the 2022 agreement, Pilingkata, some “difference of interpretation” was acknowledged, which deputy commissioners from both states are slated to discuss. While discussions on the remaining six disputed sites are ongoing, no specific timeframe has been set for their completion. The 884.9-km-long interstate border has been a source of contention in 12 areas. The March 2022 agreement, signed in New Delhi, addressed six of these areas, with Assam receiving 18.46 sq km and Meghalaya 18.33 sq km out of the 36.79 sq km of disputed territory taken up in the first phase. The root of the dispute lies in Meghalaya’s challenge to the Assam Reorganisation Act of 1971, which Assam recognises as its legitimate border.
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