Shillong: A small drifting river has sparked a boundary dispute between Assam and Meghalaya.
Jingiram, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, formed the natural boundary between Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills and Assam’s Dhubri districts. But the drifting of the river towards south (into Meghalaya) over the years has triggered a row in Kacharipara village (called Malakhowa by Assam), with residents in Meghalaya side alleging that encroachers from Assam side were cultivating in their land.
Officials say the river has drifted about 400 metres southwards over a period of 40 years.
Following the controversy that also witnessed stray law and order incidents, officials of both the neighbouring districts met recently and formed a panel comprising revenue officials to demarcate a temporary boundary till a permanent solution to the vexed boundary dispute between the two states was arrived at.
Telegraphic boundary pillars constructed in the 1920s was the actual boundary. Those pillars are not visible now.
But the locals have been assuming the river to be the boundary, West Garo Hills deputy commissioner Sanjay Goyal said.
"The drifting of the river has created confusion over the actual boundary. The old course is now free land on the Assam side whereas it has swallowed portions from what used to be Meghalaya land," Goyal said.
He said the newly formed panel would identify some permanent structures like roads and demarcate an actual boundary and arrive at a temporary solution keeping in mind the frequent law and order problems.
The dispute is over a 1000-bigha fertile land, which interestingly remains under water during floods.
Dhubri superintendent of police Deepak Choudhury told a news agency, We are ensuring that no inconvenience is caused to the
local villagers. The survey party should resolve the issue within a month’s time.
There are some 12 areas of difference between both the states, which claim the tracts based on different land records and historical documents. Several rounds of meeting have failed to resolve the disputes.
PTI
