Assam-Meghalaya model of settling border disputes
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: August 23, 2022 -
THE unanimous decision to form three regional-level committees to find solution to disputes in some border areas of Assam and Meghalaya during the 9th chief ministers' meeting on the protracted border issue held in Guwahati on Sunday should also be adopted for settling all the remaining border rows in the northeast region, which had often witnessed inter-state violent clashes among settlers in the border areas.
As agreed upon in the meeting, the committees will not only have cabinet ministers of each state but also bring on board members from the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) as half the number of disputed sites is learnt to fall within the jurisdiction of KAAC.
The resolve of the two states to eternally end hostility between the border villagers has been made crystal clear from the agreement that both governments will notify formation of the regional committee within 15 days after assessing the ground condition and interacting with the local people.
Unlike in the past when the task to settle border disputes in the northeast used to be entrusted to police officers and district administrators of the area concerned, it is heartening to learn that CMs Conrad Sangma and Himanta Sarma will be shouldering the responsibility to strengthen the spirit of friendship towards ironing out differences for formulating a mutually agreeable solutions amicably through their physical visits to the problematic areas and conferring with the locals.
As signing pacts across the table wouldn't help solve the existing border disputes, the two CMs have taken the right decision to reach out to the local populace.
Even if the final settlement takes time for survey works to be carried out by reliable and competent agencies include rugged areas apart from imminent claims and counter-claims, initiating the borderline determination process means that the neighbouring states are keen to set an example for the remaining states in the region to follow suit.
As commitment of the states in dispute to expedite the settlement process would be decisive in ensuring that settlers in the border villages at-least dwell peacefully regardless of facing various other issues due to infrastructure deficits, no efforts should be spared by the remaining states to create a friendly environment and constitute official teams to resolve the border disputes.
The inter-state border disputes in the northeast have persisted for long with attempts at resolving them unsuccessful indicating the collective failure of Union and state governments.
After every major incident, the Union government or the Supreme Court appoints commissions, which recommend ways to resolve the issue.
However, since these recommendations were not binding upon the states, one or the other state government rejected the reports if its claim was not favoured.
The appointment of commissions itself were seen as a delaying tactic by the governments rather than searching for solutions as the persistence of border disputes vitiate inter-state relations and jeopardise the security situation in the region.
As such, the incumbent regional governments must prioritise settlement of the border disputes before unwanted incidents create further divisions among the indigenous communities, all of which are fiercely protective of the land either inherited from the forefathers or occupied taking advantage of improper demarcation.
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