During Question Hour, Ropahihat Congress MLA Nurul Hoda raised the issue of Assam's disputed boundaries with Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh. He sought detailed information on the current status of the disputes and the measures being taken by the state government to resolve them.
According to official data presented by Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora, more than 16,144 hectares of Assam's land is under encroachment by Arunachal Pradesh, 59,490 hectares by Nagaland, 3,442 hectares by Meghalaya, and 82,752 hectares by Mizoram.
Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, Bora said the interstate boundary disputes are decades-old issues that existed long before the present government assumed office. He stated that when the neighbouring states were created, several boundaries were not completely demarcated, resulting in disputes along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh, Assam-Nagaland, Assam-Mizoram, and Assam-Meghalaya borders.
Bora said the government is working through discussions with neighbouring states to achieve a permanent settlement. He stated that Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram have shown willingness to move the process forward, while negotiations with Nagaland are continuing despite the matter also being pending before the Supreme Court. He expressed hope that all outstanding disputes could be resolved within the next five years.
Congress MLA Rekibuddin Ahmed criticised both the Assam Government and the Central Government, alleging that residents living in the disputed border regions continue to face harassment. He claimed that people residing along the Assam-Nagaland boundary frequently encounter difficulties because of alleged interference by authorities from the neighbouring state. Ahmed said repeated meetings have failed to produce lasting results and urged both governments to conduct meaningful peace talks with neighbouring states to reach a permanent settlement that safeguards the interests of border residents.
Nurul Hoda also expressed dissatisfaction with the government's response during the Assembly proceedings. He alleged that armed groups continue to intimidate residents living in the disputed areas and claimed that every household in those regions had received notices demanding money. Hoda said the minister failed to provide a satisfactory response to the concerns he had raised and called for stronger government intervention to ensure the safety and security of people residing in the boundary regions.
The discussion underscored the continuing complexity of Assam's interstate boundary disputes, with legislators across party lines stressing the urgent need for a lasting and peaceful resolution through dialogue, coordinated action, and sustained engagement with neighbouring states. The debate reflected growing concern over the impact of the unresolved disputes on border communities while reinforcing the demand for a comprehensive settlement to one of the state's most persistent administrative challenges.
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