SHILLONG: The plan of the Border Security Force (BSF) to fence the entire Indo- Bangla border stretch in Meghalaya has received a major boost with Meghalaya Government is in the process of making necessary land allotment for the purpose.
Speaking to The Shillong Times here on Friday, BSF’s Meghalaya frontier, Inspector General, PK Dubey said that the BSF now was required to deposit necessary money with Meghalaya Government for the land acquisition.
Stating that the fencing of the Indo-Bangla border will enhance the security apparatus in the state including the capital Shillong, Dubey added that Meghalaya Government was in the process of finalising the entire land acquisition process.
He added that the fencing was almost completed along the 443 km-long Indo Bangla border stretch in the state barring a stretch of around 90 km in East Khasi Hills district that remained to be fenced.
It may be mentioned that the Supreme Court is monitoring the progress of fencing work along Indo -Bangla border in Assam and Meghalaya and the Apex Court has set a deadline of 2019 to complete the entire land acquisition process. Few months back, survey was also conducted along the Indo- Bangla border.
In addition, the BSF is also using its own generator to use the flood lights along the border and they are waiting for power supply from the Meghalaya Government to use those light for border vigil at night.
Meghalaya shares 443 km border with Bangladesh that is prone to smuggling of cattle and contraband goods, besides intrusions of Bangladeshi immigrants.
The Central Government’s decision to construct fence 150 yards inside the zero line is being opposed by land owners and pressure groups in the State who are demanding that the fence should come up on the zero line to prevent loss of arable land.