Assam, Nagaland Agree To Go Ahead With Oil Exploration Along State Border

Himanta Sarma and Neiphiu Rio reached an understanding during a meeting Thursday night, hours after Assam and Arunachal Pradesh governments signed an agreement to resolve their over five-decade-old border dispute.

Assam and Nagaland Chief Ministers Himanta Biswa Sarma and Neiphiu Rio have agreed in principle to go ahead with oil exploration in areas along their disputed boundary for the economic benefit of both states.

Himanta Sarma and Neiphiu Rio reached an understanding during a meeting Thursday night, hours after Assam and Arunachal Pradesh governments signed an agreement to resolve their over five-decade-old border dispute.

Assam and Nagaland are exploring all options to bring an end to the decades-old border imbroglio in an amicable manner, an Assam government statement said.

During their one-to-one discussion here, the two chief ministers discussed issues of mutual interest and collaboration on oil exploration along the inter-state boundary, it said.