Assam, Meghalaya CMs discuss border problems

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and his Meghalaya counterpart Dr Mukul Sangma today met here and decided to resolve the boundary dispute through dialogue taking into account views of both sides.
"We are all aware of areas of difference along interstate border between Assam and Meghalaya and certain discussion was held on this," Sangma said after the chief ministerial level meet that was convened after nearly 7 years.
It was also decided to hold Chief Secretary level meetings to iron out differences and reach conclusions acceptable to the people of both states, he told reporters.
Both the Chief Ministers agreed to take steps to amicably demarcate the 12 disputed areas at the border and fix boundary pillars.

Sonowal said that he was confident about resolving Assam's decades-old border disputes with Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram through consultations and mutual understandings.
Besides the border problem, extremist issue also came up during the meeting.

Sonowal said that a joint mechanism must be put in place to check criminal activities in Assam's South Salmara and Mancachar districts bordering Garo Hills of Meghalaya.
Sangma said that his government has been able to reduce crime considerably in his state and Assam government has also extended full cooperation in managing crimes at border areas.
As Meghalaya shares a 433 km long border with Bangladesh, stopping illegal migration and managing crime at the border remained key concerns for Meghalaya similar to Assam, he said.

Sonowal urged his Meghalaya counterpart to take steps to prevent cutting of hills that cause flash floods in Guwahati and Sangma assured him that it would be stopped.