SHILLONG: Coordination Committee on International Border (CCIB), a conglomerate of social organisations, has asked the government to facilitate early solution to the lingering boundary issue between Meghalaya and Bangladesh and not merely focus on border fencing.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Border Areas Development Minister Prestone Tynsong here on Friday, CCIB spokesperson G.H. Kharshanlor said, “It seems the district collectors in West Jaintia Hills are more interested in border fencing but the fact is that this is not the time to discuss border fencing.”
“Solving boundary issues should be a priority and the Central government should survey the boundary lands for verification of border areas for the process of demarcating the lands, as most of the arable and cultivated lands of Meghalaya have been shifted beyond the boundary pillar,” he said.
“Our demand is that the Central government should solve border issues and to put in place realignment where in the present situation the protocol agreement signed between the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is not accurate,” Kharshanlor claimed.
“The survey is conducted only by the concerned officers whereas survey should be conducted in the presence of the land owners,” Kharshanlor said.
He also rejected the Government’s claim based on the protocol that Meghalaya stands to gain 240 acres of land.
Kharshanlor said that the Border Areas Development minister has assured to take up the matter and discuss with officers concerned, and added, “We will wait for the time being”.
Speaking of the protocol to the agreement between India and Bangladesh concerning the demarcation of the land boundary between Indo-Bangladesh, Kmen Myrchiang alleged that it is not practical as Meghalaya will probably stand to lose more than 500 acres of land.
He added that CCIB will send a memorandum to Lok Sabha member from Shillong, Vincent H Pala, to take up the issue of survey of lands.
Earlier, the CCIB members demanded that fencing should be erected at the Zero Point near the boundary pillar after realignment of the boundary pillars.
The CCIB members also argued that arable land in 13 villages will go to Bangladesh if the fence is erected 150 yards beyond the Zero Line.
