SHILLONG: The long vexed issue of fencing along the Indo-Bangla border in Meghalaya still continues to hang fire with more than 100 kilometers of the international border yet to be fenced.
The bone of contention now is the area from where the fencing is to come up. While the land owners and pressure groups want the fencing to be erected from zero line, the Centre has maintained that the fencing would be done from 150 yards inside the boundary as is the case in the entire country.
Sources have informed that more than 100 kilometers of border fencing out of 443 kilometers is still pending in East Khasi Hills and Jowai areas.
According to sources, the matter has been taken with the State Government for early land acquisition for the fencing of the international border with Bangladesh.
The long unfenced border in Meghalaya continues to be exploited by illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Besides, smuggling of cattle and other contraband items also take place in the border.
It may be mentioned that there are gaps in 108 places along the border in Meghalaya frontier and the BSF is trying to come up with ways and means to plug them.
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi directing the completion of border fencing within this year, the implementing agency is at its wits end to finish the task thanks to the land acquisition hurdles in the State.
