Centre has not informed State Govt of any proposal for exchange of territory with Myanmar: Govindas
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 02 2026: Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam has stated that the Central Government has not informed the State Government of any proposal to exchange a portion of Manipur's territory with Myanmar in connection with border fencing.

He made the statement while responding to a calling attention motion raised by Congress MLA K Ranjit of Sugnu AC on the first day of the Assembly session, which commenced today.

On the floor of the House, Govindas said the Government of India would certainly inform the Manipur Government in advance if any portion of the State's territory is to be exchanged or otherwise affected.

Centre has not informed State Govt of any proposal for exchange of territory with Myanmar: Govindas

He added that the State Government had not received any such information from the Centre so far.

Govindas also said that he had come across reports speculating about a possible land swap on certain dailies.

Stating that India shares around 1,643 km of international border with Myanmar, of which about 171 km is disputed in the Lohit sector of Arunachal Pradesh and areas adjoining the Kabaw Valley in Manipur, the Home Minister added that there is no dispute along the remaining stretch.

He added that issues along the Manipur-Myanmar border since many years back, including the relocation of border pillars, have caused concern among the people of the State.

India and Myanmar have been engaging in diplomatic dialogue over the border issue, he said, adding that the Centre has also been taking up border fencing work on a priority basis.

The Minister further stated that the Government of India had sanctioned Rs 32,000 crore for completion of the border fencing work by 2029.The target has been shortened to 2028, he added.

Stating that the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar has been suspended since February 2024, Govindas maintained that movement across the border is still permitted upon production of valid identity cards.

It is true that discussions had taken place on the exchange of a portion of territory along the Indo-Myanmar border measuring 1.4 square miles in view of the border fencing work, he said.

However, Govindas maintained that the Union Cabinet has not taken any decision on the exchange of territories, nor has there been any discussion in Parliament on handing over 1.4 square miles of Manipur's territory to Myanmar.

He added that the State Government stands with the people of Manipur in safeguarding the territorial integrity of the State.

In Manipur, the areas between Border Pillars 65 and 68 at Molchom, Border Pillars 75 and 79 along the Moreh sector, and Border Pillars 88 and 95 along Choro Khunou on the Indo-Myanmar border have been identified as sensitive areas, he said.

Manipur shares a 398-km-long border with Myanmar, stretching from Border Pillar 32 to Border Pillar 130, of which fencing has been completed along 55 km, he added.

Saying there are some issues in executing the border fencing work in Manipur, he added that the State Government understands the grievances over the loss of the Kabaw Valley.

He further stated that the Ministry of External Affairs has not officially informed the State Government about any proposal to demarcate the Indo-Myanmar border for the fencing work.

He added that demarcation work has routinely been carried out by representatives of the Government of India.

Govindas further said that the State Government has been apprising the Centre of the issues of drug trafficking, arms smuggling and the influx of illegal immigrants into the State.

In his motion, K Ranjit sought clarification on a report published by The Diplomat regarding the alleged proposal to exchange 1.4 square miles of Manipur's territory at Molchom in Chandel (between Border Pillars 65 and 68) with Myanmar.

He also said that some civil society organisations had sought clarification from the Centre and the State Government over the issue.

The Congress MLA said that the people of Manipur are still unhappy over the loss of the Kabaw Valley, which, he said, was clearly recognised as part of Manipur's territory under the Treaty of Yandaboo and the Kabaw Valley Agreement.

Ranjit also said that he had seen a video showing Home Minister Govindas covering his mouth with his hands when media personnel sought his response to The Diplomat report on the land-swap initiative.

Asking which part of Manipur the Government of India is planning to exchange with Myanmar and its exact area, Ranjit questioned which State would benefit if such an exchange takes place.

He also asked whether the Centre had apprised the State Government of any proposal to exchange territory with Myanmar.