Meghalaya and Assam have agreed for a policy of "give and take" to resolve the long-pending boundary dispute without hurting the sentiments of the people of both the states.

"The give and take policy is the right step to address the issue that has a sentimental touch," Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters after a meeting between representatives from both sides at Byrnihat along the boundary between both states on Wednesday.

"We have agreed that the voice of the local populace will be the basic component that can shape our pragmatic approach towards the problem," he said, adding that Meghalaya’s claims over any stretch along the boundary should be clearly "defined".

Yesterday’s meeting of Joint Special Committee on Border Dispute (JSCBD) was attended by Meghalaya Revenue Minister Prestone Tynsong and the Assam Health minister besides other top officials of the two states.

The decision was in accordance with the 1992 chief secretary's agreement for a 'give and take policy'. The committee is scheduled to meet again after 45 days in Guwahati to discuss on the issue.