The recent string of IED blasts detected in the Cachar district of Assam have brought attention again towards the long-standing, unresolved boundary disputes between Assam and Mizoram. This border conflict traces its origins to the time of the formation of Mizoram, which was initially recognized as a union territory in 1972 before finally achieving full statehood in 1987.
The History of Assam-Mizoram Border Conflict
This problem is rooted in the colonial period when “inner lines” were determined based on the administrative necessities of the British Raj. The contention arises from two specific notifications released during this era. The first was in 1875, segregating Lushai Hills (now Mizoram) from the plains of Cachar. The second notification in 1933 formally defined a border amid Lushai Hills and Manipur.
These two distinct notifications are at the heart of the dispute, as they present conflicting demarcations for the region. Mizoram supports the 1875 declaration, as it was aligned with the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act, 1873, whereas Assam follows the 1933 resolution. Consequently, both states have different perceptions of the border which is the main point of contention.
The Current Picture of Assam-Mizoram Boundary
Presently, a 164.6-km inter-state border separates the two states. Three districts in Assam, namely Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj, share a border with the Kolasib, Mamit and Aizawl districts of Mizoram. The border runs along naturally occurring barricades like hills, rivers, forests, and valleys, leading to folk attributing skirmishes to differing perceptions over an imaginary line.
Moreover, the frequency of conflicts between Assam and Mizoram residents is less compared to those between other neighboring states like Nagaland.
Inter-State Disputes in India: A Larger Picture
Beyond the Assam-Mizoram disagreement, there are several other inter-state conflicts across India. Many of these disputes revolve around boundaries, migrations and sharing of water resources.
Boundary disagreements have plagued states like Karnataka and Maharashtra over the city of Belgaum. The North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971, which altered the political map of Northeast India has also led to many boundary disagreements in the northeastern region.
Migration issues have sparked violent protests due to a scarcity of resources and employment opportunities. The ‘sons of the soil’ concept that promotes local employment preference often destabilizes healthy federalism.
Another longstanding issue is over sharing of river waters, as many Indian rivers flow through more than one state. The steadily increasing demand for water has aggravated several interstate disputes over resources.
Suggestions for Resolving Disputes
To deal with boundary rows, it is suggested that satellite mapping could be employed to provide an accurate description of actual border locations.
Resurrecting the Inter-state council under Article 263 of the Constitution could potentially resolve inter-state disputes. This council is anticipated to advise on disputes, discuss subjects common to all states and offer recommendations for better policy coordination.
Zonal councils could also be reactivated to address matters of mutual concern to states in each zone, such as social and economic planning, border disputes, and inter-state transportation.
Spatially diverse but culturally unified, India stands as an epitome of “unity in diversity”. To reinforce this unity, both central and state governments must embrace the principles of cooperative federalism.
