The news that the decades-old interstate boundary dispute issue that has kept the two neighbouring states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam at loggerheads will now be attempted to be resolved outside the legal domain has raised a fair amount of hope. The fact that the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister have made a direct intervention shows that the Centre too is also keen in having an early solution. The earlier the things are sorted out, the better it will be for both the states and their people. However, the ‘movements’ wouldn’t have been so fast if the Kimin episode hadn't surfaced.

It remains a fact that the Kimin issue has hurt the sentiments of the people of Arunachal Pradesh in a manner that has no precedence. In presence of heads of government(s), so many heavyweight ministers and bureaucrats, the unforgivable error was made. It’s not that ‘flare-ups’ between the two states over ownership of lands along the boundary are new. But the manner in which an integral part of Arunachal has been projected as a part of Assam and the news of which was aired for hours by the national media has pained all Arunachalees. It has also transpired that another organization which is under control of the Centre, NEEPCO has shown Bichom in West Kameng as a part of Assam in its ‘draft copy’ of Emergency Action Plan for the 600 mw Kameng Hydroelectric Plant. It’s only due to the ‘whistle blowing’ from an unknown individual the fault has made the news. Although apologies have arrived by now, the question that can’t and shouldn’t be ignored is why such back-to-back ‘mistakes’ are occurring. It’s a curious coincidence defying all logic that both the misleading maneuvers have been committed by Central organisations- Kimin fiasco by BRO and Bichom by NEEPCO, both well acquainted with Arunachal’s geography for decades through their respective professional duties. Going strictly by facts, along the 804-km boundary which the state shares with Assam, disputes at several places leading to violence and tension have been a regular feature and the Ministry of Home Affairs must be aware that it’s Arunachal which has been at the receiving end most of the times. The case has been pending in the Supreme Court since 1989 and it needs mentioning that maintenance of status quo as directed by the apex court has been only on paper.

However, an out-of-court settlement will only be successful in the long term if the trust factor is honoured by both the sides. If the model proves successful, it will also open up the locked windows for settling the slew of such similar border disputes the other NE states are entangled with.