Syllabus: GS– II & V: Federalism & Inter-State Relations

Why in the News?

A joint boundary survey between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh has been conducted to resolve the long-pending inter-state border dispute.

About the Survey

• Conducted jointly by: District administrations of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh
• Covered: Stretch-II (Telam to Seren Agma River)
• Area: Lower Siang (Arunachal Pradesh) and Dhemaji (Assam)
• Method: Use of geospatial coordinates and scientific mapping
• Participation: Officials, Survey of India, and local stakeholders (Gaon Burahs, Panchayat members)
• Aim: Accurate and mutually agreed boundary demarcation

Origin of Assam-Arunachal Pradesh Border Dispute

• The dispute has its roots in the colonial times when the British introduced the concept of Inner Line Regulation (ILR) in 1873. 
  • The ILR demarcated an imaginary boundary between plains and the frontier hills. These frontier hills were designated as North East Frontier Tracts (NEFT) in 1915. 
• NEFT consisted of the Ballipara Frontier Tract, the Lakhimpur Frontier Tract and the Sadiya Frontier Tract. 
  • These areas were kept outside the purview of the usual laws of the land.
• By 1946, the NEFT had been reorganized and was administered by the Governor of Assam. 
  • They now consist of Sadiya, Lakhimpur, Tirap, Sela Sub Agency and Subansiri area. 
  • Sela and Subansiri constituted what was the erstwhile Ballipara Frontier Tract.
• After India gained independence, NEFT came under the jurisdiction of the Government of Assam till January 26, 1950. 
• A sub-committee headed by Gopinath Bordoloi (then CM of Assam), in its report of 1951, recommended that the NEFT be administered by the Assam government. 
• As per the recommendations, around 3,648 kilometers of the plain area of Balipara and Sadiya foothills were transferred from NEFT to Assam’s then Darrang and Lakhimpur districts.
• But the Government of India decided to govern it as an “Excluded Area”, with the Governor of Assam acting as an agent of the President of India.   
•  In 1954,  NEFR was reconstituted as North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) and was brought under the Ministry of External Affairs. 
• In August 1965, the administration was transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which supervised and controlled the region till 1972. 
• In 1972 NEFA was named Arunachal Pradesh and was granted the status of an Union Territory. 
• After that Arunachal Pradesh contended that several forested tracts in the plains traditionally belonging to the hill tribal chiefs and communities were transferred to Assam.
• Arunachal Pradesh has long held that the transfer of some parts of Balipara and Sadiya foothills in 1951 was done without the consultation of its people. 
• It was unilateral and arbitrary as no tribal leader from Arunachal Pradesh was consulted before the land was transferred. 
• Arunachal also claims that it had customary rights over these lands, considering the tribes living there would pay taxes to Ahom rulers. 
• Assam, on the other hand, claims that this demarcation as per 1951 notification is constitutional and legal. 

Efforts to Resolve the Boundary Dispute 

• • In 1979, a high-powered tripartite committee was constituted to delineate the boundary on the basis of Survey of India maps, as well as discussions with both sides. 
    • By 1983-84, 489 km out of 800 km boundary, mostly in the north bank of the Brahmaputra, were demarcated. 
  • However, further demarcation could not commence as Arunachal Pradesh did not accept the recommendations and claimed several kilometers out of the 3,648 sq km that was transferred as per the 1951 notification. 

• Assam objected and filed a case in the Supreme Court in 1989, highlighting an “encroachment” made by Arunachal Pradesh
• To resolve the dispute between the states, the apex court appointed a local boundary commission in 2006, which submitted its report in September 2014. 
• Several recommendations were made and it was suggested that both states should arrive at a consensus through discussions. However, nothing happened.
• In 2022, Assam and Arunachal commenced CM-level talks over the border issue and it led to the historic Namsai Declaration.

Namsai Declaration

• Border issues between both the states would be confined to a list of 123 villages. 
• The boundary line delineated by the high powered tripartite committee in 1980 would be taken as the notified boundary and all realignment would be done in relation to it. 
• 12 regional committees covering the 12 districts of Arunachal Pradesh and the 8 districts of Assam for joint verification of the 123 villages. 
• The committees were to make recommendations keeping in view “historical perspective, administrative convenience, contiguity and people’s will” 
• No new claim area or village will be added in the future beyond these 123 villages. It also states MoU is “full and final” in respect to the 123 villages. 

Current Status 

• Disputes in 37 villages have been resolved with the signing of the Namsai declaration itself. 
  • Through the MoU, the dispute over another 34 villages has been “amicably resolved.” 
  • 3 villages are located partially within the Indian Air Force’s bombing area in Dullong. 
• The MoU states that the matter regarding these three villages will be taken up by Arunachal Pradesh with the Government of India and the Indian Air Force. 
• The village boundaries of the 49 remaining villages are unresolved and the MoU states that in these the Regional Committees will finalize the boundaries “through continuous dialogue” 

One-line Wrap

Scientific and cooperative boundary surveys are key to resolving inter-state disputes and ensuring peace in Northeast India.

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