CCIB wants border fencing as per 1958 pact

SHILLONG: The Coordination Committee on International Border (CCIB) has reiterated its demand for realignment of the Indo-Bangla border as per the Nehru-Noon Agreement of 1958 even as the Centre had agreed to keep the fencing close to the zero line to accommodate habitations.
CCIB general secretary Kmenlang Myrchiang told The Shillong Times on Wednesday that the border fencing should not be done from 150 yards inside the Indian territory as local people would lose their land.
“We will not rest until the Government understands our problem and if they force their way, we will react,” he said.
Slamming the State Government for its alleged reluctance to solve the issue, Myrchiang even questioned the Border Security Force (BSF) saying the area near pillar number 1273 is now occupied by Bangladeshis and the border force has given all the liberty to Bangladeshis to come on the Indian side.
Earlier, Chief Secretary K.S Kropha had asserted that the Government of India had agreed that fencing should be as close to the zero line as possible to ensure that habitations are not left outside the fence and the contentious issues were addressed during a meeting with the residents along the border.
However, CCIB has a different take on the matter and it plans to approach the Centre. The committee has already raised the matter with the two MPs of the state.
Myrchiang said hundreds of villagers in Garo Hills are now regretting their decision to allow fencing as they are losing on benefits from government schemes.
Several NGOs and pressure groups are protesting fencing inside the 150 yards of Indian territory as they are apprehensive that the State would lose lakhs of square kilometers of land.
But the Chief Secretary had asserted that Meghalaya has gained around 240 acres of land while Bangladesh has retained only 41 acres of land.
The border fencing has started and is being monitored by the Centre and the Supreme Court. Land acquisition for the remaining 80km is underway.