Cooperation needed for solving inter-state boundary disputes

ITANAGAR: The inter-state boundary disputes among north eastern states can be resolved only with the willing cooperation of the state governments concerned, a Union Minister has said.

The Centre works only as a facilitator for amicable settlement of the disputes in a spirit of mutual accommodation and understanding, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs R P N Singh said while responding to a written question by Arunachal Pradesh Lok Sabha MP Takam Sanjoy.

Singh said yesterday that the Centre is aware that boundary disputes arose mostly out of claims and counter claims over territories,' between Assam and Meghalaya, Assam and Nagaland, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and Mizoram in the Northeast.

Boundary dispute between Assam and Arunachal arose after the 1951 notification that demarcated the boundary between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh which was ab initio rejected by the later.

The Supreme Court-constituted local commission on interstate boundary dispute headed by Justice(retd) Tarun Chatterjee inspected some of the boundary areas, including Taraso area under Balijan circle of Papum Pare district in Arunachal Pradesh recently.

The Commission, which was constituted in 2006, is expected to submit its final report to the apex court for an amicable and lasting solution to the contentious issue.