GUWAHATI: The Centre has kept the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) suspended since the 2021-22 financial year and has introduced the Vibrant Village Programme-II from 2025-26 to promote the development of international border areas in Assam, Border Security and Development Minister Atul Bora informed the Assam Assembly on Tuesday.
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Replying to a starred question by Congress MLA Wazed Ali Choudhury, Bora said the Centre had been providing funds under the BADP for the development of international border areas until the 2020-21 financial year. However, the scheme has remained suspended since 2021-22.
To boost infrastructure and socio-economic development in border regions, the Centre launched the Vibrant Village Programme-II from 2025-26. Under the scheme, 140 villages across nine international border districts of Assam have been identified for development. The districts are Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, Tamulpur, Udalguri, Dhubri, South Salmara-Mankachar, Cachar and Sribhumi.
The minister said the programme aims to ensure the holistic development of these villages and transform them into vibrant border settlements. The process of selecting villages has already begun in the respective districts.
Bora also informed the House that neighbouring states continue to occupy large tracts of Assam's land. According to official records, Arunachal Pradesh has encroached upon 16,144.0117 hectares, Nagaland 59,490.21 hectares, Meghalaya 3,441.8601 hectares, and Mizoram 3,675.78 hectares.
Quoting information from the headquarters of the Border Wing of Assam Police, Bora said the state currently has 103 Border Outposts (BOPs) along its inter-state boundaries, of which 96 are operational. Since the 2022-23 financial year, the Border Security and Development Department has been providing grants-in-aid of up to Rs 5 lakh annually for the maintenance and internal infrastructure development of these outposts.
On the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary dispute, Bora said the two states share an 804.10-km boundary, with eight districts of Assam adjoining 12 districts of Arunachal Pradesh. Regional Committees have been constituted for all 12 districts to jointly inspect border areas, interact with local residents and facilitate resolution of the dispute.
He said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering 123 villages claimed by Arunachal Pradesh was signed in New Delhi on April 20, 2023, in the presence of the Union Home Minister. Arrangements have also been made for a joint survey of areas that had not been surveyed earlier.
Under this process, 291.08 km of the inter-state boundary has been demarcated with the consent of both states. Of this, a 149.61-km stretch was jointly surveyed by the Survey of India between February 9 and June 10, 2026, in the presence of representatives of both states. The remaining stretch will be surveyed after the monsoon.
Referring to the Assam-Meghalaya boundary dispute, Bora said the issue is being addressed through bilateral discussions between the two state governments on the advice of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
He said 12 areas remain disputed between Assam and Meghalaya. During the first phase, six sectors—Tarabari, Hahim, Gizang, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pilingkata and Ratacherra—were taken up for resolution. Regional Committees from both states jointly inspected the border areas, interacted with local residents and submitted reports to their respective governments.
Following a joint decision by the two governments, an MoU covering these six areas was signed in New Delhi on March 29, 2022, by the Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya in the presence of the Union Home Minister.
Bora said the Survey of India has completed the joint survey and installation of boundary pillars in the Hahim sector, while similar work in the Gizang area is at the final stage. Boundary determination in Tarabari will begin after the Meghalaya Government's nodal officer examines the work already carried out.
He added that the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council has been entrusted with assessing the ground situation in Boklapara, while Assam has sent a proposal to Meghalaya for boundary determination in Ratacherra and is awaiting its response. In the Khanapara-Pilingkata sector, the Survey of India is carrying out a joint survey for mutually agreed boundary demarcation.
For the remaining six disputed sectors—Langpih, Boradwar, Nongwah-Mautamur (Gizonbanga), Deshdumaria, Block-I and Block-II, and Psiar-Khanduli—Regional Committees of both states are continuing discussions, joint inspections and consultations with local residents to resolve the disputes.
On the Assam-Mizoram boundary issue, Bora said bilateral discussions are continuing at different levels. Regarding the Assam-Nagaland boundary dispute, he said Assam's civil suit (O.S. No. 02 of 1988) remains pending before the Supreme Court, while cordial discussions between the Chief Ministers of the two states are also continuing.
The minister said the government is pursuing the resolution of inter-state boundary disputes through dialogue while taking into account the views of people living in border areas. He added that Border Outposts have been deployed to monitor vulnerable stretches and prevent fresh encroachments.
Bora further informed the House that the Border Security and Development Department has not launched any separate scheme for developing Model Border Villages in inter-state border areas.
He reiterated that under the Vibrant Village Programme-II, 140 villages in the nine international border districts have been identified for development. The programme focuses on four key areas—all-weather road connectivity, telecom connectivity, television connectivity and on-grid electrification—with district administrations preparing infrastructure and social development plans for the identified villages.