Guwahati: Assam and Mizoram conducted a significant discussion about the inter-state boundary conflict issue on Thursday in Guwahati.
The minister of agriculture of Assam Atul Bora and Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary & Mizoram Home Minister Lalchamliana, the minister of land revenue and settlement Lalruatkima and other top officials from both ministries attended the meeting.
According to Minister Bora, the meeting will open the door to resolve the long-pending problem.
“During the meeting, several decisions were taken by both State governments including the Mizoram government will furnish the list of villages, their areas, geo-spatial extent and ethnicity of the people and other relevant information within three months to support their claim which can be examined by setting up Regional Committees from both sides to arrive at an amicable resolution of the vexed border issues and the Assam government will extend full cooperation whenever sought,” said Bora.
The Assam Minister added that the Joint Statement of August 5, 2021, inked in Aizawl, contained resolutions that both parties also promised to uphold.
“Both sides agreed to continue their resolve to maintain peace and harmony on the inter-state border among communities living on both sides with a view to further strengthen their age-old ties. The high-level delegation from Mizoram expressed that there has been huge unrest among the areca nut growers in Mizoram on account of problems being faced in the transportation of their produce to Assam and other parts of the country,” he said.
According to Bora, the two governments also decided to refer the matter to their respective Chief Ministers in order to develop a cooperative solution and maintain a consistent zero-tolerance policy against the transportation of areca nuts smuggled from other nations.
The interstate border between Assam and Mizoram is 164-6 kilometres long, and the two neighbouring states have been at odds over their border for ten years.
In an effort to resolve the contentious border dispute, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Mizoram colleague Zoramthanga previously met twice in New Delhi, first in November of last year and once in September of this year.