The next phase of border talks between Assam and Meghalaya to resolve the border disputes in the remaining six out of 12 areas will most likely begin this month, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma informed on Tuesday.
Briefing the media persons in Meghalaya’s Shillong, Chief Minister Sangma said, “I had a couple of telephonic conversations with my counterpart in Assam. We are working out the dates and hopefully we should be able to initiate the first talk within the month of May itself.”
The Chief Minister further added that, “It is a process and we cannot expect everything to happen in one-day but at least in the initial part we will try our best.”
Sangma stated that he and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma will soon finalise the dates for holding the talks.
“The good part is that since we are in direct talking terms, and we are talking to each other directly, we will be able to finalise the dates very soon. We have given two-three options to each other. Once we fix the exact dates, I will definitely inform you all,” CM Sangma said.
In the first phase of talks held in August 2022, the governments of Assam and Meghalaya resolved differences in six of the 12 areas which are Hahim, Gizang, Tarabari, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pilingkata, and Ratacherra. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between the two states.
The remaining six disputed areas include- Langpih in West Khasi Hills District, Borduar, Nongwah-Mawtamur, Deshdoomreah, Block-II in Ri Bhoi District, Block- I, and Psiar-Khanduli in West Jaintia Hills District.
The Meghalaya state government on March 24 reconstituted the three Regional Committees to examine the present status of the remaining six areas of differences and submit their reports within 45 days.
Earlier, the Meghalaya government had also said that it will accord topmost priority to the local views while resolving the border disputes with Assam in the second phase of the talks.
Meghalaya and Assam signed a border pact on March 29 last year following conclusion of the first phase of talks to resolve boundary disputes in six areas of difference.
Meghalaya shares an 885 kilometer long inter-state border with Assam.
The writer is a senior independent journalist covering the Northeast.
