Guwahati: Expressing dissatisfaction over the progress of border fencing, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said the Centre is doing a feasibility study by carrying out two pilot projects for sealing the international riverine border along Assam-Bangladesh.
“A feasibility study is on to see what we should do to stop infiltration through riverine route. Already two pilot projects are going on. We will observe the outcome of those and if they are successful, then we will adopt them in some places,” Singh told a press conference here.
The government will initiate strong measures to prevent infiltration from Bangladesh after the feasibility report comes out, the Union Home Minister added.
Singh, on a two-day visit to Assam for inspecting the international border in Karimganj and Dhubri districts, said he is not “happy” with the work going on at present. “Officials have told me that Karimganj border will be sealed by December 2016, while that of Dhubri is expected by 2017. However, personally I am not fully satisfied. Because Assam shares about 263 km of border with Bangladesh and there are gaps at many places. We need to fill them,” he added.
Singh, who was accompanied by All Assam Students Union representatives in the border inspection, said the Centre is willing to discuss with the organisation for fulfilling the clauses of the Assam Accord.
On Assam’s perennial flood problem, he said: “It is Assam’s biggest problem. I want to talk to state government to find out what can be done in this regard. We invite suggestions from them. Both Centre and State need to talk to find a permanent solution to the problem.”
The Home Minister also said he has been informed about encroachment of land in tribal belt and emphasised the need to stop that. (PTI)
