U.P. releases funds for pillars to mark borders with Haryana

Move expected to settle decade-old disputes between farmers of two states

MEERUT: Following a proposal from the Baghpat district administration, the Uttar Pradesh government has released a token sum of Rs 6 lakh to erect pillars that will demarcate the state’s border with Haryana. Further installments for the purpose are to be released as per the demand in the due course of time, said officials.

Presently, the course of the Yamuna river is considered to be the demarcation between

U.P. and Haryana in the Baghpat district. However, the need to erect border pillars was felt as farmers of the two states often engage in altercations when the river changes its course.

After receiving the first installment from the U.P. government, the Baghpat district administration requested the Survey of India -- the central agency responsible for mapping and surveying -- to demarcate the land border between the two states in Baghpat. This will facilitate the installation of border pillars.

Speaking on the development, Baghpat’s district magistrate Rajkamal Yadav said, “The proposal to install pillars was sent to the state government in a bid to end the decade-long conflicts over the borderline dividing Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. We will start erecting the pillars soon after the Survey of India establishes the border.”

In absence of a clear demarcated border, farmers of the two sides often lay claim over the same land when the Yamuna changes its course during the monsoon season and agricultural land gets submerged. Several times, these confrontations between farmers have turned violent. With the installation of pillars, the U.P. government hopes to address the issue once and for all.

Notably, this is not the lone attempt made to settle the border dispute. Back in 1974, a committee headed by the then agriculture minister Uma Shankar Dixit had come up with a report -- called the Dixit Award. This report also suggested the installation of border pillars.

As per the recommendation, pillars were erected but the issue resurfaced after they were washed away due to floods in Yamuna over a period of time.

PRESENTLY, THE COURSE OF THE YAMUNA RIVER IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE DEMARCATION BETWEEN U.P. AND HARYANA IN THE BAGHPAT DISTRICT.