Assam and Arunachal Pradesh boundary dispute

Assam and Arunachal Pradesh boundary dispute

Chief Ministers of the Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in the presence of Union Home Minister signed a Memorandum of Understanding over disputed areas along the roughly 800-km shared boundary.

Major Highlights of MoU

• MoU deals with are 123 border villages, which span 12 districts of Arunachal Pradesh and 8 districts of Assam.
• It also states that both governments “agree to effectively prevent any new encroachment in the border areas”
• MoU is “full and final” in respect to the 123 villages.

Genesis and Evolution of the dispute

• The Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary is the longest inter-state border in the Northeast

• The issue started with a 1951 report which transferred 3,648 sq. km of the “plain” area of Balipara and Sadiya foothills to the Darrang and Lakhimpur districts of Assam.
• The disputes cropped up in the 1970s and intensified in the 1990s with frequent flare-ups along the border.
• Arunachal Pradesh was made a Union territory in 1972 carved out of Assam.
• Assam contested this and the matter went to the Supreme Court

Importance of Recent MoU

• It’s a historic day for Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. It will end the border dispute between both states which had been pending for more than 50 years.
• The boundary settlement would usher in all-around development and peace in the Northeast.
• It will strengthen our federal structure as it brings a new paradigm to resolve differences between states

Practice Questions for Prelims

1. The CM of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam signed MoU that deals with 123 border villages, which span 12 districts of Arunachal Pradesh and 8 districts of Assam.
2. The state governments agree that no new claim area or village will be added in future beyond these 123 villages.
3. It also states that both governments “agree to effectively prevent any new encroachment in the border areas”

Which of the statements given above is / are correct :
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) All of the above

Ans. d

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