Border fencing committee rejects survey conducted by Indo-Bangla officials
NONGPOH: The Coordination Committee on International Border Fencing (CCIBF) on Tuesday expressed strong discontentment and registered their strong opposition to the proposed border fencing between India and Bangladesh in Meghalaya Sector.
The CCIBF registered their opposition to the proposed fencing after the Central Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ratified the survey conducted by officials of India and Bangladesh and rejected the survey conducted by the CCIBF in Meghalaya Sector.
“In 2006, the MUA Government in Meghalaya led by the Congress had constituted the Coordination Committee on International Border Fencing (CCIBF) which was entrusted to look after the border dispute between India and Bangladesh in Meghalaya Sector,” spokesperson of CCIBF, G.H. Kharshanlor said on Tuesday, adding that the CCIBF was deeply concerned that all their hard work and findings submitted to the government was rejected.
He also stated that the CCIBF will not accept the survey conducted by official of India and Bangladesh which has been ratified by the Central government until and unless the border fencing is constructed as per the survey conducted by the CCIBF, which is a recognized committee constitute by the Meghalaya Government.
Kharshanlor also stressed that in 2011 the land agreement (Protocol) was signed by the then Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and further stated that the present NDA Government had ratified the survey conducted by officials of India and Bangladesh by sidelining the survey conducted by the CCIBF and land agreement signed by Hasina and Singh.
The CCIBF wondered how the Central government could proceed in the case without the concern of the state government by ratifying a new survey for the proposed border fencing between India and Bangladesh in Meghalaya Sector.
“The Central government has deprived the land owners in Meghalaya Sector of their rights,” Kharshanlor stated, while adding that the Meghalaya Government was not serious at all despite the fact that the Centre had overruled the committee (CCIBF) formed by the State government.
The CCIBF demanded proper verification of the Zero Line and re-transfer of the ‘missing’ 278 acres of land to Meghalaya, while making it clear that it would not accept the proposed ongoing border fencing if there was no correction of the land survey as reported by it.
