The Assam assembly on Tuesday witnessed noisy scenes after the government conceded that Bangladesh and neighbouring states have encroached upon more than 700 acres of the state's land.
As much as 500 acres were being encroached by Bangladesh along the border, while nearly 87 hectares were illegally occupied by Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Meghalaya and a small stretch by West Bengal, Assam Accord Implementation Minister Bhumidhar Barman said in the House.
The infuriated opposition members, with their leader Chandra Mohan Patowary, demanded a detailed statement by the government on the steps taken in this regard.
The minister said the government had filed a case in the Supreme Court, which directed setting up of a local commission to solve the Assam-Nagaland and Assam-Meghalaya border disputes.
On steps taken by the government, Barman said government-level talks were on with neighbouring states during regular intervals to solve the matter.
On encroachment by Bangladesh, the state had approached the Centre to settle the matter, the minister informed.
Unhappy with the reply, opposition members created a din, demanding an all-party delegation visit the disputed border areas.
Terming the matter serious, Speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai said he would look into the problem.
