Centre sanctions new border haat near Balat

SHILLONG: The Union Government has sanctioned a Border Haat at Nalikata along the Indo-Bangla border near Balat in West Khasi Hills District.
Addressing a civic action programme at Ranikor on Thursday, BSF Meghalaya Frontier IG Sudesh Kumar informed that the Border Haat at Nalikata would start functioning as soon as the infrastructure is ready.
He further informed that a team from the Ministry of Home Affairs recently conducted a survey for a proposed bridge at river Jadukota and the sanction is likely to be made in a few months’ time.
It may be mentioned that the BSF had forwarded a proposal of Rs.100 crore for the proposed bridge.
The BSF IG also asked the local youths of Ranikor to take part in the special recruitment drive for the youths of border area which would begin shortly even as he informed that the BSF had conducted special drives earlier in the border areas of Meghalaya and over 150 youths have completed their training and have become a part of the force.   While admitting that connectivity along the border areas is a major concern, he said that the Government has conducted survey and very soon repair works will be undertaken to improve road connectivity in the border areas.
The BSF organized the civic action programme and also conducted a free medical camp at Mawehnnlleen village near Gumaghat on Thursday.
Over 1200 people from different villages participated in the programme. Medicines were distributed to about 250 patients by the BSF medical officers and civilian doctors.
Sports items, hygiene materials, white boards for schools, chairs for women’s associations and torchlight for VDP members etc., were distributed during the programme. A football match between the girls’ teams of Mawehnnlleen and Nalikata village was also organized.