ITANAGAR, Apr 30: In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on 20th April, 2023, at New Delhi, and to pave the way for a peaceful, transparent and time-bound resolution of the long-pending inter-state boundary “issue”, Joint Inter-State Boundary (ISB) Survey along Assam-Arunachal border commenced in Lower Siang and East Siang districts today, paired with the counterpart district of Assam, and similarly, it will begin in Lower Dibang Valley district tomorrow, official sources said.
The study is being done by the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, in coordination with the Government of Assam and the Survey of India.
The Department of Border Affairs (GoAP) stated that the Joint ISB Survey along the Arunachal Pradesh–Assam border has formally commenced today in Lower Siang and East Siang districts, and shall commence by 1st May, 2026 in Lower Dibang Valley district.
The joint survey teams comprise officials from the Survey of India, the Government of Assam and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, along with concerned administrative officers, District Land Revenue & Settlement authorities, PWD engineers, forest officials, police personnel, Heads Gaon Burahs/Gaon Burahs of the concerned villages, border-conscious citizens and adequate security personnel from both States.
The department further stated that the survey is being undertaken in a phased and stretch-wise manner, with the participating districts paired with their counterpart districts in Assam, namely Dhemaji and Tinsukia. The exercise covers identified stretches along the inter-state boundary and is aimed at facilitating an amicable, scientific and on-ground demarcation of the border based on geospatial coordinates.
Lower Siang – Dhemaji sector: Three stretches covering approximately 56.57 km, with surveys to be taken up first in stretch-2 (Telam area westwards), followed by stretch-3 (in Likabali area) and thereafter stretch-1 (under Nari circle).
East Siang – Dhemaji sector: Two stretches, with the survey commencing first in stretch-1 (from the geospatial extent 95.371533° / 27.848558° at Oyan-Ruksin area up to the Depi River bordering Lower Siang district), to be followed by stretch-2.
Lower Dibang Valley – Tinsukia sector: Two stretches (Parbuk and Paglam) covering approximately 58.23 km. Survey works in the Parbuk stretch are being led by SDO Parbuk, while the Paglam stretch is being led by SDO Paglam.
In East Siang district, the joint survey commenced today in the Oyan/Jampani area by the East Siang and Dhemaji teams, in presence of officials of the Survey of India, with no issue or problem reported from any side. The survey in Lower Siang district has likewise commenced as per the approved plan. Survey work in Lower Dibang Valley is also underway in coordination with the Tinsukia administration.
Earlier in the month of March this year, the joint ISB survey in the Pakke-Kessang sector was commenced. By 4th April, all the border pillars erected pursuant to the survey had been completely re-observed on the ground by the Survey of India in the presence of officials of both the Government of Assam and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh. The successful completion of the re-observation exercise marks an important milestone in the on-ground demarcation of the inter-state boundary in this sector.
Pursuant to the directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, the Survey of India (SoI) initiated the process of survey and demarcation of the Inter-State Boundary, with fixation of pillars along the boundary delineated by the High Powered Tripartite Committee (HPTC), 1980, as agreed in the MoU. The Additional Surveyor General, NE Zone, has been appointed by SoI as the Nodal Officer for initiating the survey works, and both States have also appointed their respective Nodal Officers to liaise with SoI.