The second round of regional committee-level talks to settle the border dispute between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh took place on Monday in Guwahati.
The meet was held at AAS College.
Minister of Water Resources Pijush Hazarika represented the Assam government, and Minister of Environment and Forests Mama Natung represented Arunachal Pradesh.
The discussion regarding the faster resolution of the matter was held in a constructive and peaceful environment.
Discussions were held to finalise the report to be submitted to the chief ministers of both states.
In a statement to the media, Pijush Hazarika said that the report was based on the committee’s visit to the four disputed villages in Assam’s Biswanath and Arunachal Pradesh’s Pakke Kessang district in September.
According to Hazarika, after a thorough discussion of all the issues, all parties decided that the disagreement must be settled via mutual understanding and a policy of compromise.
While those in Pacho want to be a part of Assam, those in Balicho, Dipik, and Dikalmukh villages have expressed a desire to be a part of Arunachal Pradesh.
The report has been updated to reflect this.
The committee agreed that the chief ministers of the two states must report the issue to the Center because all four villages are located in forested areas, he said.
It may be mentioned that Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Arunachal chief minister Pema Khandu signed the Namsai Declaration on July 15 wherein they pledged to resolve the border dispute between the two states.
The two governments had agreed to reduce the number of “disputed villages” from the previous 123 to 86 and to attempt a resolution by September 15.
