Guwahati, 11 June (HS): A significant tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at facilitating hydrocarbon exploration along the Assam–Nagaland border is set to be signed on Thursday evening in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The agreement, involving the Government of India and the state governments of Assam and Nagaland, seeks to unlock crude oil and natural gas reserves in border areas that have remained largely untapped due to decades-old inter-state boundary disputes.

The signing ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi at around 6:30 pm. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan are expected to attend the event alongside senior officials from both states and the Centre.

According to officials, the MoU will establish a structured framework for joint exploration and production activities in the resource-rich border region. The pact is also expected to define mechanisms for revenue sharing and coordination on law-and-order issues during energy operations spanning the disputed areas.

The Centre views the initiative as an important step towards cooperative federalism and regional development. Besides boosting energy production, the agreement is expected to serve as a confidence-building measure between Assam and Nagaland, helping ease long-standing territorial tensions while promoting economic cooperation.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash