Source: ASSAM LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY REPORT, Starred Question No: 55, Date of Answer: 08/07/2026, Starred Question No: 55
Morung Express News
Dimpaur | July 8
Assam has claimed that 59,490.21 hectares if its land had been “encroached upon” by Nagaland, accounting for more than 71% of the total 82,751.86 hectares that the state says are under the control of its four neighbouring states.
The figures were tabled in the Assam Legislative Assembly on July 8 by Assam's Border Protection and Development Minister, Atul Bora, in response to a starred question by Congress MLA Rekibuddin Ahmed.
According to the reply, the areas claimed by Assam to be under Nagaland's occupation are spread across four border districts.
Golaghat district accounts for the largest claimed area at 36,294.07 hectares, followed by Jorhat (14,079.14 hectares), Sivasagar (8,829 hectares) and Charaideo (288 hectares).
It is unclear whether it is the total of the disputed border areas between the two states.
The Assembly reply did not state whether the figure represents the total disputed area along the Assam-Nagaland boundary.
Meanwhile, the minister informed the House that the Assam-Nagaland border dispute remains pending before the Supreme Court of India through Original Suit No. 2 of 1988, instituted by the Government of Assam and the matter remains sub judice before the apex court.
At the same time, he said, amicable discussions between the Chief Ministers of Assam and Nagaland are continuing to seek a negotiated resolution.
The reply also annexed copy of the Tripartite Agreement signed on June 11, 2026 between Union Government Assam, Nagaland for crude oil and natural gas exploration based on data received from the Mines and Minerals Department of the Government of Assam.
Minister Bora also noted that while Assam has made progress in resolving boundary disputes with some neighbouring states through dialogue, detailed information regarding land reclaimed or exchanged can only be provided after discussions are concluded and survey work is completed.
Other border disputes
Arunachal Pradesh accounts for 16,144.01 hectares of Assam's claimed encroached land.
As per the reply, the two State Governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2023 covering 123 disputed villages.
According to the minister, 291.08 km of the interstate boundary has since been mutually confirmed, with 149.61 km jointly demarcated by the Survey of India between February and June 2026. Survey work on the remaining stretches will resume after the monsoon.
Mizoram accounts for 3,675.78 hectares. The minister said discussions between the two state governments are continuing at various levels to resolve the long-standing border dispute.
Meghalaya accounts for 3,441.86 hectares. Assam and Meghalaya have already signed a Memorandum of Understanding covering six of the twelve disputed areas. The government informed the Assembly that boundary demarcation has been completed in some locations, while joint surveys and pillar installation are at various stages in the remaining areas covered under the first phase.
Overall, the Assam government told the Assembly that 82,751.86 hectares of land across 18 districts are presently under the occupation of neighbouring states.
It reiterated that the state continues to pursue resolution of interstate boundary disputes through dialogue, bilateral agreements and joint surveys under the guidance of the Union Ministry of Home Affair.
