TURA: Residents of border villages in Rongara block in South Garo Hills have alleged that many households have lost their land and right to opt for government schemes because guidelines were not followed while fencing the border in the locality.
The Indo-Bangla Border Grievances Committee (IBBGC) said the fencing of the international border with Bangladesh between outpost numbers 1154 and 1188 has not been done like in other places.
The committee alleged that while the fencing has been done 150 metres away from the international border pillar in other sections, the distance from the pillar to the fencing varies by 500-800 metres in these areas.
Many homes and large portions of the land have gone on the Bangladesh side of the border, the committee added.
Condemning the authorities for the anomaly, the committee has demanded that the fencing be dismantled and reconstructed from the zero line or rehabilitation package be given to affected villagers.
Besides, the “anomalous fencing” has affected daily life in the border villages.
Locals said BSF sometimes keeps the gates locked for two to three days making it inconvenient for villagers to travel.
Also, the locals complained that those living outside the fence cannot avail themselves of State and central schemes like water supply, electricity and MGREGS. The residents cannot build permanent structures because “uncertainty still looms large over the land” owned by them.
Earlier, IBBGC had submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and Tura MP Conrad K. Sangma urging them to look into their grievances.
However, while assurance was given nothing concrete has been done so far, it said.
The committee has once again made an appeal to public representatives, bureaucrats, district officials and political leaders to look into the matter.
