Imphal, Dec 21 (IANS): Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren informed the State Assembly on Friday that Manipur and Nagaland shall hammer out a permanent solution to the border disputes affecting Dzukou Valley and Tungjoy village located along the border of the two states.

He was replying to a question by Congress MLA K. Meghachandra on the arrest and detention of eight Manipuri trekkers in Nagaland last month.

Biren said that the agreement signed by the representatives of the two states does not say that Dzukou Valley is the property of Nagaland. "In fact, two-thirds of the valley are in Manipur while the remaining one-third is in Nagaland", he added.

He announced that construction of the road from Mao in Senapati district in Manipur leading to Dzukou Valley shall be resumed. "Besides, one tourist lodge will be constructed," he added.

Nagaland had made the necessary constructions on its side.

During the Sangai festival, 15 trekkers from Manipur had gone to the Dzukou Valley. A wildfire forced eight of them to stray into Nagaland. They were arrested and detained in police custody.

There were resentments from many sections since the Inner Line permit in Nagaland is applicable to Manipuris.

After signing an agreement, the trekkers were allowed to return to Manipur.

This is not the first instance of border dispute between the two states. There have been confrontations in the past as the border disputes between the two neighbouring states have not been resolved.