Itanagar, March 11: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu informed the state Assembly on March 10 that the process of surveying and demarcating the interstate boundary between Arunachal Pradesh and Assam has begun in phases, with the installation of boundary pillars already underway as part of efforts to resolve the long-standing dispute between the two states.
Replying to a written question from BJP MLA Wanglin Lowangdong, the chief minister said Pakke-Kessang district has been chosen as the first district for erecting boundary pillars. He stated that the demarcation work commenced on February 9 this year and the first pillar was successfully installed on February 27.
Khandu told the Assembly that after the Namsai Declaration and the subsequent settlement process, Arunachal Pradesh has registered an overall net territorial gain along the interstate boundary with Assam. According to him, the final settlement covering eight districts reflects a clear gain in territory for the state.
He also said that issues concerning the Tirap sector have already been resolved under the Assam–Arunachal Pradesh MoU 2023 signed between the two governments on April 20, 2023. The chief minister clarified that the Arunachal Pradesh government has not surrendered any land or forest area to Assam and emphasised that the settlement was achieved through structured dialogue, joint verification by regional committees and mutual agreement under the Namsai Declaration and the subsequent MoU.
Khandu said the ongoing exercise aims to resolve the long-pending interstate boundary dispute through consensus, field verification and adherence to constitutional and legal procedures. He described the outcome as a negotiated settlement that protects the territorial interests of Arunachal Pradesh.
He further informed the Assembly that disputes related to the remaining districts — Kamle district, Papum Pare district, Lower Siang district, Lower Dibang Valley district and Longding district — will be addressed through regional committees formed by the two states. These committees are conducting joint field inspections and verification based on historical records, administrative control, traditional usage and existing ground realities.
Reiterating the state government’s stand, the chief minister said Arunachal Pradesh remains committed to protecting its territorial and traditional claims through constitutional procedures, consultations and lawful mechanisms.
The Namsai Declaration, signed on July 15, 2022 by the chief ministers of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, marked a major step towards resolving the long-standing boundary dispute between the two Northeastern states. The agreement initially aimed to address disputes involving 123 villages along the interstate boundary, which was later reduced to 86 villages following negotiations and joint verification exercises.
Arunachal Pradesh, which became a Union Territory in 1972 and achieved full statehood in 1987, has long maintained that several forested tracts in the plains historically belonged to hill tribal communities and were transferred to Assam without consultation. After statehood, a tripartite committee recommended transferring certain territories from Assam to Arunachal Pradesh, a proposal that Assam contested, leaving the matter pending before the Supreme Court for several years.
