SHILLONG: Rakkam A Sangma, the legislator from Rongara-Siju in South Garo Hills, has alleged that the Indo-Bangladesh border fencing has led to the displacement more than 100 families.
Participating in the debate on the governor’s address, Sangma said the families are now living outside the international border and they don’t need passports or visas to go to Bangladesh.
“They don’t get any support from the Indian side in terms of health, electricity and other facilities. The border gates are often closed by the Border Security Force,” he said while describing the plight.
According to Sangma, though the fencing should have been 150 yards from the border, in some areas it has crossed 200-300 m and even up to half a kilometre from the zero line.
“The fencing should be brought to the zero line and the matter should be taken up with the Government of India,” he said.
The border fencing had earlier met with protests by various pressure groups which were apprehensive that the 150-yard guideline would eat into arable land in the Indian territory.
Besides the problems in border areas, the MLA also raised the problems plaguing his constituency.
Talking about infrastructure, the first-time legislator said dilapidated roads are a major issue and cited two examples to prove the gravity of the situation. Sangma said last year, former chief minister Mukul Sangma was scheduled to attend a function for the silver jubilee celebrations of the district but he could not travel by road and the same happened with his successor, Conrad Sangma, who had to come to his constituency in a chopper for campaigning before the polls.
On the appalling state of lower primary schools, the MLA said most of them have no roofs or even buildings and the running of these schools depends on the weather condition.
“When the weather is good, classes will take place and when it is not good, there will be no classes,” he added.
Though Rongara-Siju has immense potential as a tourist destination, there is no infrastructure to support the growth, Sangma said, adding that he has not seen a significant achievement by the Integrated Basin Development Livelihood Programme in his constituency.
