Imkong Walling
The inter-state boundary dispute between Assam and Nagaland is a dicey one. Like the conflicting claims presented by both sides, even the proposed means to arrive at a resolution are poles apart. One side prefers resolving the dispute bilaterally, while the other wants arbitration by a third party, in this case, a court settlement.
Assam conveniently took the course to arbitration, filing an Original Civil Suit at the Supreme Court in December 1988. Since then, the dispute has remained sub judice, implying status quo till the apex court issues a final verdict. The case was last heard on April 29, 2022, for “recording of evidence” of a witness. As per the documented proceedings of the case, the April 29 hearing was adjourned and rescheduled to August 3 and 4, owing to “some medical issues” of the witness.
The dispute has seen the demarcation of a huge tract of contested land as Disputed Area Belt (DAB), with overlapping administration and commercial interests, between the two neighbouring states. In Assam, it covers parts of Golaghat, Jorhat and Sivasagar. Concurrently, almost the entire borderland that Nagaland shares with Assam falls in the DAB.
Bring into the equation oil, yes, petroleum. Fortunately and unfortunately, the DAB has proven oil bearing areas, which has further upped the stakes of the territorial row.
By the nature of the dispute itself and the resultant arbitration, the DAB is expected and required to be free of provocative activities from both sides. But it has emerged that Assam is operating as many as 8 oil fields in the DAB with Nagaland. As tabled in Parliament by the Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas on July 21, the oil fields are located in Babejia, Dayalpur, Kasomarigaon, East Lakhibari, Kalyanpur, Khoraghat, Nambar and Suphyam. It was in reply to an “unstarred question” from the Nagaland MP.
It is clear from this that the Assam government has no gumption to respect the status quo, but what is more disappointing is the attitude of the Government of Nagaland (GoN). By now, the state government should have registered strong resentment, while taking legal steps to stop the operations and liaising with the Assam government as well as the Centre for on-field corroboration.
It was only a year ago, in June 2021, an unauthorised drilling bid at three locations in Niuland by the ONGC was halted. The Assam government was not named in the episode but it can well be assumed that no profit-oriented prospecting entity would take such a risk without patronage.
That time, the state government was quick to react, putting a stop to the contemptible act through the appropriate channels. Will the Government of Nagaland be pleased to liaise with the appropriate authorities on the oil wells in operation in the Disputed Area Belt with Assam, this time as well?
The writer is a Principal Correspondent at The Morung Express. Comments can be sent to imkongwalls@gmail.com
