AGARTALA, Sept 11: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Thursday expressed confidence that the long-pending inter-state boundary dispute with Mizoram would be resolved soon following a series of discussions between officials of the two states.
Saha said he and his Mizoram counterpart had earlier discussed the dispute and agreed to work towards a solution. He subsequently suggested that the matter first be taken up at the official level before another Chief Minister-level meeting.
Mizoram officials arrived in Tripura on September 9 and held discussions with their counterparts. A Home Secretary-level meeting was also held in Agartala on September 10 to discuss mechanisms for resolving the issue.
“I believe the solution would happen soon,” Saha said.
According to state government officials, both sides agreed to maintain the status quo on the ground in the Phuldungsai Village Council area of Tripura’s North District. Routine developmental activities may continue, while any special project proposed in the area will be intimated to the other state.
The two states also agreed to refrain from unilateral attempts at demarcation, with the Survey of India to be involved in any future joint demarcation exercise.
A Joint Technical Team will be constituted comprising the Directors of the Directorate of Land Records and Settlement (DLRS) of Tripura and Mizoram, along with the Director of the Survey of India’s Guwahati office. The team will examine available land records with the Survey of India before future field surveys.
Both states will designate their respective Additional Home Secretaries and DLRS Directors as nodal officers for regular coordination and communication on the boundary issue.
Officials said the Joint Technical Team would meet every fortnight at the Survey of India’s Silchar office, with the aim of reaching a consensus on border-related land records before any future field demarcation.
Another Home Secretary-level meeting between Tripura and Mizoram is scheduled to be held in Aizawl after two months as the two states continue efforts to resolve the long-standing dispute through official and technical consultations.
