Arunachal MoU

Guwahati, April 20: The governments of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Thursday to put an end to the long-pending border disputes between the two northeastern states.

The proposed solutions made by the regional committees of both states were approved on Wednesday by the Assam cabinet, according to Assam tourism minister Jayanta Malla Baruah. The MoU signing ceremony will be attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma shared the news on Twitter and wrote, “In today’s #AssamCabinet meeting, we took several decisions pertaining to new City Gas Distribution project, 8 mega industrial projects, MoU for resolving border issues with Arunachal Pradesh, Govt appointment for sports achievers, pension for Loktantra Senanis, etc.”

Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804 km long boundary. Over the years, allegations of residents encroaching on land from one state to another have led to disputes and violence. A suit has been pending in the Supreme Court since 1989.

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In 2021, the two states resolved to settle their border dispute out of court through talks, following the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. In July last year, both states signed the Namsai Declaration in which it was agreed to bring down the number of disputed villages from 123 to 86 and resolve the boundary row by forming 12 committees.

The Assam cabinet also approved a monthly pension of ₹15,000 to those from the state who were jailed during the Emergency that lasted for 21 months from 1975 to 1977.

Urban development minister Ashok Singhal said 301 people were arrested and put behind bars in Assam at that time under various provisions like the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA). The pension amount could be the highest such amount for ‘Loktrantra Senanis’ (Soldiers of Democracy) in the country.

The cabinet also approved the setting up of eight mega industrial projects worth a total of ₹8,200 crore. These industries, once completed, will provide direct employment to 6,100 people. Baruah said that memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with these companies will be signed on May 9, a day prior to the completion of two years of the present government.