Shillong, June 2: The resolution of the long-standing Assam-Meghalaya inter-state border dispute is set to reach a significant milestone, with the physical erection of pillars in five of the six ‘resolved’ areas of difference expected to be finalized by August 15, 2025.
This announcement came following a high-level meeting between Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati on Monday.
Chief Minister Sangma highlighted the progress made, stating, “We are very close to actually finalizing the pillars and I am happy to inform you that most likely, by the 15th of August, or before the 15th of August, we will be able to resolve and finalize the actual pillars in the five areas of differences (for which the MoU has already been signed).
He also termed this as a major milestone and another strong testament of the friendship between Assam and Meghalaya.
The two states had previously signed an historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for these six areas.
While significant progress has been made, Chief Minister Sangma indicated that a few remaining issues in areas like Gijang and Tarabari need to be sorted out in Meghalaya’s favour before the pillars can be erected. These minor, teething issues were discussed in detail during Monday’s Chief Minister-level consultation.
Adding to Sangma’s statement, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma explained that some disputed has arisen in Pilangkata, one of the disputed areas for which agreement has already been signed in the first phase of border talks.
“The Deputy Commissioners of both sides will sit down again and will try to resolve that dispute also. Regarding other six disputed sites, we have decided to keep talking, keep working and we’ll see that this remaining six disputed sites also get resolved within a short period of time,” he said.
The discussion on the remaining six areas will continue under the second phase of border talks. The second phase, covering the remaining six areas, includes more complex and sensitive regions like Khanduli – Psiar, Block I & Block II, Borduar, Langpih, Nongwah-Mawtamur, and Desh Doomreah.
The inter-state boundary conflict between Assam and Meghalaya dates back to 1972, when Meghalaya was carved out as a separate state from Assam. Since then, 12 areas of difference have been identified along the nearly 885-kilometre-long shared border.
After decades of limited progress, a political breakthrough came in January 2022, when the two Chief Ministers initiated a phased resolution approach. The first phase focused on six less-contentious areas: Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pilangkata, and Ratacherra. An MoU was signed on March 29, 2022, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, marking the first formal attempt to settle the boundary dispute since Meghalaya’s formation.
This MoU involved both states agreeing on joint ownership, administrative realignments, and land exchange based on historical claims, ethnicity, and geographical proximity. However, implementation has taken time due to the need for surveys, field verification, and consultations with local communities.
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