Guwahati: The Central government is examining the feasibility of sealing the unfenced portion of border
comprising riverine and char areas along Bangladesh border in Assam by using ‘high tech physical and non-physical barrier’ technology.
“Out of the total length of 280.06 km of Indo-Bangladesh border in Assam, fencing work for 208.65 km
has been completed,” the state government on Monday informed Assam Assembly.
State Water Resources Minister Keshav Mahanta informed the Assembly on behalf of the government during the Question Hour.
Mahanta further said out of 71.41 km unfenced area, 6.5 km is land area and the rest is a composition of riverine / char (river isles) / bridge and culverts.
Out of the unfenced land area border, 3.5 km is under Karimganj Town area and discussion is going on inbetween Border Security Force and Bangladesh Border Guards.
The settlement of disputes and land acquisition process for the remaining 3 km area, also under Karimganj district, is going on.
Bridges and culverts account for 3.696 km along the unfenced border.
“For the riverine and char area, feasibility study and examination is going on to seal these areas using ‘high tech physical and non-physical barrier’ technology by the government of India,” the minister informed the House.
Flood lighting works had already been completed along the border and work was in progress for electricity service connection to the installed lights, the State Water Resources Minister Keshav Mahanta added.
Various organisations including All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) which have been demanding sealing of India-Bangladesh border in Assam to stop infiltration from Bangladesh.
The organisations have been asking for a deadline to be set by the government to complete border fencing works.
The ruling BJP too had promised to seal the India-Bangladesh border in Assam to check infiltration from Bangladesh before the last Assembly election held in the state in 2016.
