GUWAHATI: With 20 of the state’s total 27 districts sharing borders with neighbouring states, Border Area Development has been accorded much importance by the Assam Government, Minister-of-State (independent charge) Siddique Ahmed said on Wednesday.
In response to separate questions in the state Assembly, Mr Ahmed elaborated on the schemes being implemented for development of the border areas.He informed as many as 20 districts of the state share boundaries with the neighbouring states.
These districts include Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sibsagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Dhemaji, Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, Kamrup (metro and rural), Kokrajahr, Hailakandi and Cachar.
The minister further informed the Centre has allotted Rs 19,747 lakh for border area development between 2001-02 to 2011-12, of which Rs 17808.28 lakh has been released by the Centre.Out of the released money, Rs 12102.88 lakh has been utilised, while Rs 5705.40 lakh remained unspent.In response to another specific question, Mr Ahmed informed security of the people residing in the Assam-Nagaland border is ensured through border outposts (BOPs) and neutral forces.
Consultations with the Nagaland Government are also held periodically to ensure communal harmony in the borders, he added.
Admitting that the condition of several BOPs was bad, the minister said the government was adopting various steps to renovate and repair these BOPs and work is already on. (UNI)