Shillong: Tensions are rising along the Assam-Meghalaya border. Four years after a high-profile pact, new territorial claims have stalled progress on a final settlement. Assam Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora recently told his state Assembly that Meghalaya occupies 3,441.86 hectares of Assam land. He also claims Meghalaya seeks 2,732.14 square kilometres of Assam territory.
This friction persists despite the March 29, 2022 agreement. That deal, signed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma in front of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, settled six of the 12 disputed sectors. The pact addressed Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pilangkata, and Ratacherra, covering 36.79 square kilometres.
The border conflict spans 884.9 kilometres. It traces back to Meghalaya’s 1972 separation from Assam, where disputes over the Assam Reorganisation Act of 1971 created competing claims. While the Centre touted the 2022 deal as a model, six contentious areas remain: Langpih, Block I, Block II, Borduar, Nongwah-Mawtamur, and Desh Doomreah. Complicated forest records and local sensitivities hinder further progress.
Regional committees have since visited these sites to talk with locals. No final deal exists. Meghalaya insists on protecting historical claims and the needs of border communities. Assam reports that over 82,000 hectares of its total land are held by neighbouring states. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has consistently pushed for diplomacy, noting that "border disputes should be resolved through dialogue and cooperation between neighbouring states."
For those living in these zones, the ambiguity hurts. It restricts access to government services, forest rights, and clear land ownership. The 2022 agreement changed the tone from open confrontation to negotiation. However, four years on, the border remains a raw wound.
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