Our Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI: The Indo-Bangla joint border survey of the adversely possessed lands (APL) along the Meghalaya-Sylhet frontier, which was suspended a month ago following stiff opposition from local people mainly on the other side of the border, resumed on Thursday.
The joint team of India and Bangladesh took the decision to restart the survey after a series of meetings with the people of bordering villages in the last few days. The joint survey on the borders remained suspended since June 20 in the face of protest by local people at several places.
Apprehending that their land might be handed over to the other country, the frontier people had been opposing it since the beginning of the survey.
An uneasy calm has been prevailing on about 20 kilometer border in this sector as the joint border survey on the APL began on December 7 last year. The major point of difference is in nine areas which are adversely held but claimed by both countries.
The nine areas include, Pyrdiwah, Lyngkhat, Amki-Amjalong, Ranghong, Naljiri, Tamabil, Kurinala and Muktapur mostly in East Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills districts of Meghalaya and Sylhet district in Bangladesh.
India and Bangladesh have so far surveyed 80 per cent of the international border. A large tract of this area has also been fenced.
Survey and subsequent sealing of the rest of the border would help India tackle cross border insurgency, smuggling and other illegal activities more efficiently.
The joint border survey started last year after a mutually agreed understanding between the two neighbours. The disputed areas have become cause of sporadic violence between the two countries mainly in Meghalaya sector.