SHILLONG: The MLA of Rongara Siju Assembly constituency in Meghalaya, Rakkam A Sangma, has alleged that the border fencing along the Indo-Bangla border in his constituency has resulted in the displacement of many families and urged the State Government to take up the matter with the Central Government.
Participating in the debate on Governor’s address, Rakkam Sangma said that now more than 100 families are living outside the international border due to the border fencing and they didn’t need any passport or visa to go to Bangladesh.
Asserting that those families don’t get any support from the Indian side in terms of health, electricity and other facilities, Sangma added the border gates were often closed by the Border Security Force.
According to Sangma, though the convention is that the fencing should be constructed at 150 yards away from the zero line on the border, in some areas fencing has come up around 200-300 metres and even upto half a kilometer away from the zero line along some of the stretches.
“The fencing should be brought to zero line and the matter should be taken up with the Government of India, “he said
The MLA also lamented the lack of road infrastructure in his constituency saying the former Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma last year was scheduled to attend a function to observe the silver jubilee celebrations of the district but he could not travel on the road due to its poor condition and the same happened with the present Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma who had to come to his constituency in a chopper for election campaigning during the recently held Assembly polls.
Stating that the lower primary schools in the area function as per the weather condition, he said that many of the schools did not have roofs and buildings
“When the weather is good, classes will take place and the weather is not good, there will be no classes,” he added.
Mentioning that the area has huge potential as far as tourism is concerned, he, however, said that the area did not have the proper infrastructure to attract and host tourists.
He also claimed that he has not seen a significant achievement of the Integrated Basin Development Livelihood Programme his constituency
“For five-six years, we have been looking at Ampati policy, now this time please have a look at South Garo Hills and Baghmara policy,” he said.
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