Mon, July 14 (MExN): The Konyak Union (KU) has urged the Nagaland government to resolve long-standing border disputes with Assam before implementing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on oil exploration signed between the two states in New Delhi on June 11, 2026, in the presence of the Union Home Minister.
The demand was made at a joint meeting of the KU Advisory Board Council and the Union Executive Council (UEC) held in Mon district, where the apex Konyak body deliberated on the proposed oil exploration project in the Assam-Nagaland border region.
The Union President K Yamao Konyak and General Secretary Wango Konyak in a statement said the state government must ensure “clear conformity” in resolving disputed areas, including the Tizit-Naginimora belt and the boundary between Longwa in Mon district and Pongchao in Longding district of Arunachal Pradesh, before the bilateral agreement is operationalised, to “ensure no eventuality arise in the near future in this regard.”
The union has urged the Government to consider the “views and wishes” of the landowners before any decision is finalized. “It is necessary that the concerns, rights and consent of the landowners are taken into account to ensure a fair, transparent and acceptable outcome for all stakeholders.”
The KU further extended support to the Lotha Lower Range Public Organisation (LLRPO), which had sought clarity on the Disputed Area Belt (DAB) in a statement published on July 8, 2026, calling it indispensable for protecting Naga integrity.
Google Maps error
The Union has also raised concerns over the alleged misrepresentation of Nagaland’s boundary on Google Maps, which it said “inaccurately drawn its line, despite a clear historical validation of ancestral boundaries between the Konyak and the Ahoms of Assam.”
It noted that a memorandum on the issue was submitted to the Chief Minister of Nagaland on September 3, 2024, and also published in newspapers, but claimed no response had been received so far. This, the Union said, has led to “technical inconsistencies in official credential and potential confrontation between the two states.”
The KU said the mapping discrepancy also affects the ancestral boundary between Konyak villages in Mon district and Wancho areas in Arunachal Pradesh, with Google Maps shown to overlap with Mon district’s territory.
The Union expressed hope that government intervention would help prevent confrontation, reduce public confusion and strengthen trust between the administration and the people, reiterating its commitment to working constructively with the government towards a peaceful and lasting resolution.
Security concern
On security matters, the KU reminded the state government of a representation submitted to the Deputy Chief Minister for Home on July 12, 2025, on safeguarding the borders and curbing unwanted cross-border activity.
The representation had proposed setting up police check gates and related infrastructure at international border points in Longwa, Chenmoho, Wangti and Monyaksho, as well as at Assam-Nagaland state boundary points including Namthai and Hota Hoti. It also called for construction of the Wakching police station and the Laukun police outpost.
The Union appealed to the state government to act on these proposals, saying it looked forward to continued cooperation with the objective of the government.
