Smart Fencing Between Assam-Bangladesh Riverine Border By January Next!

GUWAHATI: The men at work have been racing against the clock to complete the fencing, to be precise smart fencing, of the 48.11-km Assam-Bangladesh riverine border with a non-physical barrier by January-end next – as Dispur and Delhi expect. The task involving over Rs 80 crore, it seems, is going to be the height of technology, apart from being a matchless New Year gift to the State.

The 48.11-km riverine border which Assam shares with Bangladesh has always been a headache for the State. The previous governments at New Delhi and Dispur never laid any stress on total sealing of this reverine stretch.

The situation, however, is set for a change now. Coming to power in May 2016, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal visited the riverine border in September that year. He then took up the matter with the Centre that too took the issue up with much urgency. Without delay, the Centre handed over the uphill task of fencing the riverine border with a non-physical barrier to the BSF.

Implementation of the Assam Accord was reviewed at a meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently. Apart from the top officials of Dispur and MHA, top officials of all implementing agencies of the Assam Accord were also present at the meeting. The meeting ended on a positive note that the fencing of the reverine stretch of the Assam-Bangladesh border will be completed by January next.

Talking to The Sentinel, State Principal Secretary for Home and Political department LS Changsan said: “The reverine border between Assam and Bangladesh is being fenced using technologies like GPS, Gyro, radar, soner, optical fibre cable, UAVs etc. The task is being accomplished by the BSF. It’s expected to be completed by January-end next.”

Assam shares a border of 263 km, including the reverine stretch, with Bangladesh. The India-Bangladesh land border in the Assam sector is yet to be sealed totally. It’s imperative to keep tabs on if the sealing of the riverine border actually happens as expected by the government or not.

Also Read: Top Headline