Assam-Nagaland sign MoU to unlock hydrocarbon potential along disputed border areas

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday, June 11 said the long-pending boundary issue between Assam and Nagaland has been addressed through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at facilitating the utilisation of hydrocarbon resources in the disputed areas and ensuring benefits for the people and the nation.

Taking to social media platform X on June 11, Sarma said the border dispute had remained a major hurdle in harnessing the natural resources available in the region. He said the signing of the agreement in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah has removed the bottleneck affecting resource development.

The Assam Chief Minister said the Assam-Nagaland border dispute is a longstanding and complex issue, with the disputed areas divided into five categories identified as A, B, C, D and E. While certain areas are under the administrative control of Nagaland and others under Assam, the overlapping administrative arrangements had created challenges in resource utilisation.

Sarma said the agreement would enable both states to cooperate in sharing proceeds from the hydrocarbon potential of the region, including royalty benefits, and facilitate extraction activities. He said the move would allow resources to be developed for the larger interest of the country.

Highlighting the importance of the agreement amid global energy challenges, Sarma said India’s dependence on imported hydrocarbons and rising international prices had increased the need to explore domestic resources. He expressed confidence that the arrangement would be implemented in the spirit agreed upon by both governments.

Sarma further said Assam would extend cooperation in resolving future issues related to areas of interest under the agreement. He added that any disputes arising during implementation would be addressed through dialogue between the two states.

The Assam Chief Minister said the objective of the agreement was to ensure that the people living in the region ultimately benefit from the development of hydrocarbon resources.