Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad K. Sangma has decided to visit the disputed areas along the inter-state border to build the confidence of the stakeholders.
The two chief ministers held the ninth chief minister-level meeting in Guwahati on Sunday to resolve the remaining six of the 12 disputed areas along the 885-km border between the two states. Disputes in the six “less complex” areas were resolved with the signing of an agreement on March 29 in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah.
Following a formula implemented to resolve differences in the first six regions, the two chief ministers decided to form three regional-level committees each to find solutions to recurring conflicts in the six “complex” regions.
“The committees will be chaired by the cabinet ministers of each state. Members of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council will be included as three of the six disputed sites are under the jurisdiction of the council,” Mr Sarma said.
He said that the regional committees would be notified by both the governments within 15 days.
The process of resolving the disputes is expected to begin with goodwill visits between the two chief ministers to areas of difference to “talk to the local people” to build their confidence.
The officials who attended the meeting included Assam Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua and his Meghalaya counterpart DP Wahlang.
“Members of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council will be included as three of the six disputed sites are under the jurisdiction of the Council”Himanta Biswa SarmaChief Minister of Assam