HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, Aug 22: Assam government’s minister for Water Resources, Information and Public Relations Pijush Hazarika attended a meeting of the Regional Committee formed to resolve the border issue between the states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on Monday, held at Balipara in Sonitpur district.
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The committee from Assam led by minister Hazarika met with the committee members from Arunachal Pradesh led by Arunachal Pradesh minister for Environment, Forests, Water Resources and Sports Mama Natung, and discussed the border issue between Pakke Kesang district of Arunachal Pradesh and Biswanath and Sonitpur districts of Assam.
During the course of the meeting, minister Pijush Hazarika said the two teams from both the states will visit the disputed areas on September 2 and 3 next and prepare a report after conducting a proper field study of the area.
Stating that holistic development of the people living in the border areas will not be possible till a permanent solution to the border issue is arrived at, minister Hazarika said a solution is being worked out under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister and the Home minister of the country and due to sincere efforts of the chief minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma. The minister also stressed that the report would be prepared only after visiting the border areas and interacting with the people residing in the area.
Another team, led by Assam Border Protection and Development department minister Atul Bora, visited Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh, adjacent to Tinsukia of the neighbouring state, during the day.
Talking to reporters at Namsai, Bora said, “This is the first visit of the regional committee. We will be going to the Lohit district from here. We are confident of resolving all differences amiably through discussion.”
The Arunachal Pradesh delegation in Namsai was led by deputy chief minister Chowna Mein.
As many as 12 panels were formed by the two governments, following discussions between Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Pema Khandu on July 15, which had also led to the signing of the ‘Namsai Declaration’.
The two states, as per the declaration, decided to restrict the number of ‘disputed villages’ to 86, instead of the previous 123, and agreed to make attempts to resolve all issues by September 15.
Bora said the ‘Namsai Declaration’ was a testimony of the progress made in the matter through talks between the states.
The minister also said that he was confident the regional committees would be able to submit recommendations to their respective governments by September 15, as was decided earlier.
He urged the people in the border areas to maintain peace as the talks were progressing well, especially after the signing of the Namsai Declaration.
“We have come to know that there have been some problems in a few areas after the Namsai Declaration was inked. We should refrain from creating a war-like situation over minor issues,” Bora stated.
On the disputed areas in Namsai, Bora said people have cooperated during the visit.
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804.1-km-long border.
Arunachal Pradesh, which was made a union territory in 1972, had complained that several forested tracts in the plains that traditionally belonged to hill tribal chiefs and communities were unilaterally transferred to Assam.
After Arunachal Pradesh achieved statehood in 1987, a tripartite committee was appointed which recommended that certain territories be transferred from Assam to Arunachal.
Assam contested this claim and the matter is in the Supreme Court. (With inputs from PTI)
