By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Sunday affirmed that considerable progress has been made along the Indo-Bangla international border in the Meghalaya sector, with the construction of roads, floodlighting and fencing.
Chidambaram, who met Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma and other State Government officials, stated that the Phase I of the project had been completed while the Phase 2 was underway.
“Considerable efforts have been made and we have decided today to accelerate the process so as to finish off most of the work possibly before the monsoon sets in,” he told reporters.
The Union Home Minister also met members of the Coordination Committee on Border Fencing (CCIB), a conglomeration of influential NGOs in the State, who submitted a memorandum to Chidambaram, highlighting their demand for a fresh survey of the international boundary before fencing work is carried out by the Government.
The CCIB informed Chidambaram that the border fencing work was being carried out without proper verification of the boundary which is resulting in huge loss of cultivable lands.
The CCIB has been opposing the Centre’s decision to construct the border fence 150 yards inside and away from the zero-line as it wants the fencing to come up along the zero line to prevent loss of arable land.
Later, while speaking to media persons, the CCIB also reiterated their opposition to the Indo-Bangladesh land pact signed by both countries in September last year.
“We oppose the pact since the border survey conducted by the Joint Boundary Working Group was done without consultation with land owners, the traditional bodies and the CCIB,” the committee said, while adding that the Home Minister has assured us that he will look into our demands after getting feedback from his officers,” the CCIB added.