Kamal Ghorui
Dibrugarh: A joint inter-state boundary survey along the Arunachal Pradesh-Assam border has formally commenced, with teams beginning ground-level work across multiple sectors simultaneously as part of a structured effort to achieve scientific demarcation of the long-disputed boundary.The department of border affairs, Arunachal govt, confirmed on Thursday that the Joint Inter-State Boundary (ISB) Survey has been launched along the border in Lower Siang and East Siang districts, with operations in the Lower Dibang Valley sector scheduled to begin by May 1. The survey is being conducted in coordination with the Assam govt and the Survey of India, using geospatial coordinates for precise, on-ground boundary demarcation.In the East Siang (Arunachal) – Dhemaji (Assam) sector, the survey got off to a productive start on its first day. Teams operating from the right bank of the Siang river identified 19 locations for the installation of boundary pillars, based on jointly verified KML and geospatial coordinates. The survey proceeded from the Oyan-Jampani area and is set to continue towards Depi village in the coming days.“The entire exercise was conducted smoothly, with no issues reported from any side,” officials confirmed following the first day of operations in the East Siang sector.Officials from both state administrations and representatives from the Survey of India were present during the proceedings.The survey is being carried out in a phased, stretch-wise manner, pairing respective districts of Arunachal with their Assam counterparts. In the Lower Siang-Dhemaji sector, three stretches totalling approximately 56.57 km have been identified, with survey work beginning in the Telam area before moving to Likabali and Nari Circle. In the Lower Dibang Valley-Tinsukia sector, two stretches — Parbuk and Paglam — covering around 58.23 km are to be taken up under the leadership of local administrative officers.Joint survey teams comprised a broad cross-section of officials, including personnel from the Survey of India, both state govts, district administrations, police, forest departments, engineering teams and local community representatives including Gaon Burahs.The boundary resolution effort is being carried out in accordance with directions from the ministry of home affairs and agreements reached between the two states, including the Namsai Declaration of July 15, 2022 and an MoU signed in New Delhi on Apr 20, 2023.The exercise builds on measurable prior progress. Pilot surveys in the Sonitpur-West Kameng sector covering 14.33 km were completed in Dec 2023, while surveys in the Pakke-Kessang-Biswanath and West Kameng-Udalguri sectors have also been concluded.
