The Assam government has revealed that approximately 83,000 hectares of its land have been encroached upon by four neighboring states—Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. The announcement was made by Assam Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora during a session in the state assembly on Wednesday.
Extent of Encroachment
According to the data presented, Nagaland accounts for the largest share of encroached land, occupying 59,490.21 hectares. Arunachal Pradesh has encroached upon 16,144.01 hectares, while Mizoram and Meghalaya have taken 3,675.78 hectares and 3,441.86 hectares, respectively. The affected areas span 17 districts of Assam, including Sonitpur, Biswanath, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Jorhat, and Golaghat.
Efforts to Resolve Border Disputes
Minister Bora emphasized that the Assam government is actively engaging in discussions with the neighboring states to resolve these long-standing border disputes. He highlighted that the disputes with Nagaland are currently under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, but positive dialogues between the chief ministers of Assam and Nagaland are ongoing.
In recent years, Assam has made progress in resolving border issues with some states. For instance, an MoU was signed with Meghalaya in March 2022 to address disputes in six out of 12 contentious areas along their 884.9 km boundary. Similarly, an MoU with Arunachal Pradesh in April 2023 resolved disputes in 71 out of 123 villages, with demarcation efforts continuing for the remaining areas.
Political Criticism
Bora criticized previous Congress-led administrations for failing to address these border disputes effectively, which he claimed hindered development and led to unfortunate incidents. He credited Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for initiating multilevel discussions and taking decisive steps toward permanent resolutions.
Looking Ahead
The Assam government remains committed to safeguarding its territorial integrity while fostering peaceful relations with its neighbors. As discussions continue, the state aims to achieve amicable solutions to these disputes, ensuring stability and development in the region.
