The joint committee, which consists of officials and civil organization from Assam and Mizoram, on Thursday began identification of illegal construction along the 64.6km inter-state boundary of Assam and Mizoram.
The joint committee was formed under the initiative of the Union Home Ministry in the aftermath of their boundary dispute that took place in March.
Also read: Assam-Mizoram border tension: Inspection of Inner Line Reserve Forest on April 12
The committee comprises forest, police and administrative officials of Hailakandi and Cachar districts in Assam and Kolasib district in Mizoram and representatives of Mizoram civil societies.
The committee, headed by Chief Conservator of Forests, Cachar, Vinay Gupta and Conservator of Forest of Mizoram’s central circle, Lalthlamuana Pachuau, began the identification process from Zophai (as known in Mizoram) or Karchulthal (as known in Assam) where the border dispute took place in the second week of March, official sources said.
From Zophai, the team will proceed to other areas.
According to the committee identification of illegal structures will be carried out within the 509 square miles of inner-line reserve forest area along the Assam-Mizoram inter-state boundary.
After Zophai, the committee will inspect constructions along Lailapur in Assam to Vairengte, Phaisen and Aitlang in Mizoram.
The joint committee has been entrusted the task of inspection after a meeting at Zophai headed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) joint secretary Satyendra Garg held on March 28, 2018 at Zophai. The committee has been directed to finish the inspection by April 30, 2018.