SC appointed mediators to settle border dispute: Naga Minister

The Supreme Court has appointed mediators to find a resolution to the boundary dispute between Assam and Nagaland, Minister for Forest and Border Affairs, Y Patton has told the State Assembly.
The total area of 4,974.16 sq miles is claimed by Nagaland in the disputed region, as filed in the case before the apex court, Patton said yesterday while replying to Congress MLA Hukavi Zhimomi over the present status of the vexed dispute.
He also informed the House that there was no land agreement between Assam and Nagaland. However, he said that an Interim Agreement was made in 1972 and 1979 between the two states following some incidents in the border areas.

NCP MLA Dr T M Lotha, stressing on the need to review the Assam-Nagaland border agreement of 1972 and 1979, said that the agreement mostly favored Assam.
Stating that there are reports of Assam opposing the setting up of the proposed Nagaland Special Development Zones (NSDZ) along the foothill areas on the grounds that some areas fall on the disputed area belt, Dr Lotha said the government should review the Interim Agreement.
He said neutral forces should be deployed along the border areas to maintain law and order. He also said people from other side had set up over 100 settlements in the area, but Nagaland had not done anything.