Assam, Meghalaya next round of talks on border dispute likely in October

Guwahati: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday said the next round of formal talks with Assam to resolve the border disputes is likely to take place in October this year.

The Chief Minister said discussion over the areas having complications needs to be detailed in order to ensure there is no lapse of aspect by any of the states.

Regarding the differences of border, he said both the states have been engaging in regular meetings.

CM Sangma said he also had several discussions with his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma unofficially.

While admitting that some areas between both the neighbouring states are very complicated, he said the next round of talks would be convened soon which is likely to take place in October.

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Regarding the six places of dispute that are yet to be resolved, he said both the states have to ensure that the discussions need to be in minute details.

Assam and Meghalaya had 12 disputed areas along their 884.9-kilometre-long inter-state border.

However, both the states signed an agreement in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in March 2022 in New Delhi with regard to ending the disputes in six of the 12 areas.

In the first phase of settlement between both the state for the 36.79 square kilometers of disputed area, Assam and Meghalaya got 18.46 square kilometers and 18.33 square kilometers, respectively.

For the remaining six areas having complicated differences, will be taken up in the next phase.