NEW DELHI: Amid efforts at disengagement along the Assam-Mizoram border after recent clashes, Assam on Friday held deliberations with Nagaland to solve another inter-state boundary deadlock, this time in the Dessoi Valley Reserved Forest along the border between the two states.
The chief secretaries of Assam and Nagaland, who held a virtual meeting to work out the disengagement plan, have agreed to withdraw forces, weapons and structures from the spot — comprising Jankhana Nala or Aosenden village and a hilltop forest camp — and let the Assam forest department establish a watch post to protect the reserved forest area.
There shall be a disengagement of forces from both sides, that is, Vikuto village area and Keremia tea estate. Both Assam and Nagaland forces will withdraw from the point of engagement at the hilltop forest camp and remove bunkers, tents or infrastructure.
Sources said the two chief secretaries concurred that huts constructed by some Naga villagers by encroaching forest area in front of the Assam camp shall be removed.
The chief secretaries agreed that Assam and Nagaland shall jointly monitor the area by patrolling and surveillance using unmanned aerial vehicles. Assam forest officials meanwhile shall continue their patrolling in the area.
It was agreed to allow the immediate renovation of Assam’s New Chunthia border outpost in the Dessoi Valley Forest so that police personnel deployed there are not inconvenienced due to substandard living quarters.
As the area is a reserved forest, the entry of civilians would have to be regulated by the jurisdictional forest authorities and both the states shall discourage movement of people from their side to avoid an unnecessary build up. It was agreed that the RCC bridge over the river of Jankhana constructed from Nagaland side shall be dismantled right away to prevent unauthorised free movement of people.
The chief secretaries of Assam and Nagaland, who held a virtual meeting to work out the disengagement plan, have agreed to withdraw forces, weapons and structures from the spot — comprising Jankhana Nala or Aosenden village and a hilltop forest camp — and let the Assam forest department establish a watch post to protect the reserved forest area.
There shall be a disengagement of forces from both sides, that is, Vikuto village area and Keremia tea estate. Both Assam and Nagaland forces will withdraw from the point of engagement at the hilltop forest camp and remove bunkers, tents or infrastructure.
Sources said the two chief secretaries concurred that huts constructed by some Naga villagers by encroaching forest area in front of the Assam camp shall be removed.
The chief secretaries agreed that Assam and Nagaland shall jointly monitor the area by patrolling and surveillance using unmanned aerial vehicles. Assam forest officials meanwhile shall continue their patrolling in the area.
It was agreed to allow the immediate renovation of Assam’s New Chunthia border outpost in the Dessoi Valley Forest so that police personnel deployed there are not inconvenienced due to substandard living quarters.
As the area is a reserved forest, the entry of civilians would have to be regulated by the jurisdictional forest authorities and both the states shall discourage movement of people from their side to avoid an unnecessary build up. It was agreed that the RCC bridge over the river of Jankhana constructed from Nagaland side shall be dismantled right away to prevent unauthorised free movement of people.