Guwahati: A Chief Minister-level meeting between Assam and Meghalaya was held in Guwahati on Monday, focusing on resolving long-standing bilateral issues, including the inter-state border dispute, Guwahati’s urban flooding challenges, and a joint irrigation and hydroelectric project.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma led their respective delegations, which included senior ministers and officials.
From Meghalaya, Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh and Chief Secretary D.P. Wahlang were among those in attendance.
A major development from the meeting was the announcement that boundary pillars will be installed by August 15 in six areas of difference between the two states where a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has already been signed.
Meghalaya CM also noted that minor adjustments still need to be made in areas such as Gijang and Tarabari to reflect Meghalaya’s position before the physical installation of markers can begin.
Talks on the remaining six disputed areas will continue.
Addressing the issue of urban flooding in Guwahati, the two chief ministers agreed to commission the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) to carry out a detailed satellite imaging study.
The objective is to map forest cover, water flow, and waterlogging-prone zones across the region.
Sangma explained the approach, stating, “We have decided to approach NESAC to do a detailed study in terms of the entire satellite imaging, whether it is of the different forest area, whether it’s different water flowing, whether it’s different areas of water logging.”
“Once this entire detailed study is done in the next few months, we will then approach agencies like the IIT Roorkee to further, then break that analysis into actual steps that we could take to find a solution that would be able to implement for both the states and be beneficial for both the states.”
Another major point of discussion was the Kulsi multi-purpose irrigation and hydroelectric power project.
Both states agreed in principle to jointly move forward with the initiative following consultations with local residents.
Highlighting the shared benefits, Sangma said, “Assam and Meghalaya in the past have demonstrated that we are very open to discuss different issues. Problems will always be there. Challenges will always be there. What is important is that we must discuss and try to find solutions to the problem.”
He added that the Kulsi project holds promise not only for power production and irrigation but also for boosting tourism.
“It is a project which is clearly a win-win situation, whether it is power production, whether it is irrigation or whether it’s development of tourism in all three fronts and many more between both the states.”
On ensuring local participation, Sangma reaffirmed both governments’ commitment to inclusive planning.
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“We have decided with the condition, of course, that the people living in those areas will be taken into confidence, discussions will be held with them, and we will find a way forward on how we take this project,” he added.
“Today, in principle, both the governments have decided that we will work together as also a symbol of our Assam and Meghalaya friendship, that we will try and move this project forward, and principally have decided that the work will start, starting with consultation with the people.”
