Guwahati: More than 82,751 hectares of land within Assam’s constitutional boundary are under the occupation of four neighbouring states, the Assam government informed the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, highlighting the scale of the state’s long-standing inter-state boundary disputes.
The information was tabled by Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora in a written reply to a question raised by MLA Akhil Gogoi during the ongoing Assembly session.
According to the official data, Nagaland accounts for the largest share of the alleged encroachment, with 59,490.21 hectares of Assam’s land stated to be under its occupation. It is followed by Arunachal Pradesh, which the Assam government said occupies 16,144.01 hectares.
The government further stated that Mizoram occupies 3,675.78 hectares, while Meghalaya occupies 3,441.86 hectares of land within Assam’s boundary.
Border disputes continue across multiple frontiers
The Assembly was informed that Assam shares extensive borders with five neighbouring states. According to the Survey of India, Assam shares 884.9 km of border with Meghalaya, 804.1 km with Arunachal Pradesh, 512.1 km with Nagaland, 164.6 km with Mizoram and 46.3 km with Tripura.
Several stretches of these borders have remained disputed for decades, with disagreements centred on territorial claims, administrative jurisdiction and boundary demarcation.
Neighbouring states claim larger areas
The government also informed the House that, apart from the alleged occupation of land, neighbouring states continue to claim substantial portions of Assam’s territory.
According to the written reply, Nagaland claims 12,882.6 square kilometres of Assam’s land, while Meghalaya claims 2,732.14 square kilometres, Mizoram 927.735 square kilometres, and Arunachal Pradesh 858.9109 square kilometres.
The Assam government, however, said it does not claim any land falling within the constitutional boundaries of neighbouring states.
It added that during boundary settlement negotiations, if residents of any border area located within a neighbouring state express a desire to become part of Assam, the state government would consider including such areas within Assam’s jurisdiction through mutual agreement.
Progress on boundary settlements
The government outlined the steps taken to resolve inter-state boundary disputes through negotiations facilitated by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Assam–Arunachal Pradesh
Minister Atul Bora said both states had constituted 12 regional committees each to examine disputed areas by considering historical records, administrative convenience, geographical continuity, local opinion and ground realities.
Based on the committees’ recommendations, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 20 April 2023 in New Delhi in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
According to the government, both states have reached an agreement on 231.08 km of the disputed boundary. Joint surveys by the Survey of India have already been completed over 146.61 km, while surveys in the remaining stretches are underway.
Assam–Meghalaya
The government said 12 disputed sectors have been identified along the Assam-Meghalaya boundary.
During the first phase, both states signed an MoU on 29 March 2022 covering six areas—Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pilingkata and Ratachera.
Boundary demarcation and pillar installation have already been completed in the Hahim sector, while work in the Gizang sector is nearing completion.
Surveys and consultations continue in Tarabari, Boklapara, Ratachera and Khanapara-Pilingkata.
Discussions are also ongoing under the second phase covering Lampi, Borduar, Nongwah-Mawtamur, Deshdemoreah, Block-I, Block-II and Psiar-Khanduli.
Assam–Mizoram
The Assembly was informed that several rounds of ministerial and official-level meetings have been held between Assam and Mizoram.
As part of confidence-building measures, delegations from both states have exchanged visits and continued dialogue aimed at resolving the dispute through mutual consultation.
Assam–Nagaland
The boundary dispute between Assam and Nagaland remains pending before the Supreme Court of India in Original Suit No. 2 of 1988.
The government said discussions between the Chief Ministers of the two states are continuing alongside the judicial proceedings.
Government says action taken against fresh encroachments
The Assam government told the Assembly that district administrations act promptly whenever fresh attempts are made to occupy land in border areas.
According to the minister, eviction drives are carried out with the assistance of the police and forest department wherever necessary.
The government also said security deployment has been strengthened in vulnerable border areas, regular patrolling is being conducted, and meetings between Border Magistrates and District Magistrates of neighbouring states are held periodically to maintain peace.
It added that boundary surveys are continuing with the assistance of the Survey of India and reiterated that a lasting solution to the decades-old inter-state disputes can be achieved only through dialogue and mutual agreement with the support of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
