Assam-Meghalaya Border Dispute

Context

The Government is likely to seal the agreement on the inter-state border dispute between Assam and Meghalaya ahead of Meghalaya’s 50th statehood day celebration on January 21.

What is the dispute?

• The 884-km Assam-Meghalaya boundary witnesses flare-ups frequently. 
• In all, there are 12 areas of dispute between the two states and in August, Sangma and Sarma announced that six had been selected for resolution in the first phase

Lumpi Village

• Langpih (also spelt Lumpi) village, which is at the border of Kamrup district in Assam and West Khasi Hills district in Meghalaya, has been disputed for several decades. 
• During the colonial times, the village was clubbed with Kamrup district in Assam by the British, but post-independence it was, according to claims, handed over to the United Khasi and Jaintia Hills district, part of Meghalaya. 
• It was only in 1972 that Meghalaya was made a separate state, after it was carved out from Assam. 
• Since the early 1970s, both states have made contesting claims on the actual demarcation of the village.