TURA: Indo-Bangla border residents from South Garo Hills whose land had been acquired by the government for the purpose of erecting border fencing with Bangladesh have threatened to dismantle the fencing and reclaim their lands if the process of payment of compensation against the land is not initiated within seven days.
The compensation has been pending for the last twenty-four years or so when acquisition of land for the border fencing first began.
The residents took the stand following a meeting of the Indo-Bangla Border Fencing Land Owners Association (IBBFLOA) held recently at Dabram in Baghmara of South Garo Hills District.
Some of the villages affected by the border fencing include Batlaban, Kanai, Chenggni, Gulpani, Rongara, Dambuk Apal, Panda and those that fall along the border route near Gasuapara.
Secretary of the IBBFLOA, Crosbell N Sangma said that those affected by the land acquisition were facing financial hardships due to the non-payment of the compensation amount as they had already parted with their valuable cultivation lands including plantations.
“How long are we supposed to wait? The government must start the process of compensation payment otherwise, we will have no other option but to take necessary action to reclaim our lost lands,” Sangma said.
