Sonowal meets Rajth, discusses current issues

A Correspondent

New Delhi, April 12: Assam Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal on Thursday afternoon hailed Centre’s ‘smart fence’ project along the India-Bangladesh Border in Dhubri sector. Sonowal has appealed Union Home Minister Rajth Singh to take initiatives for such smart fencing in all the vulnerable areas.

Sonowal called on Singh in New Delhi and discussed in detail all the relevant issues including fencing, border dispute with neighbouring state among others.

The first ‘smart fence’ pilot project to plug vulnerable gaps along the eastern sector has been rolled out in Assam on a riverine stretch with Bangladesh on Wednesday.

The project is a part of the Modi government’s ambitious plan to completely seal the India-Pakistan and the India-Bangladesh borders in the next few years. It is called the comprehensive integrated border magement system (CIBMS). The maiden testing of technical surveillance and alarm gadgetry was operatiolised on the 55-km-long stretch in Dhubri, across the Brahmaputra, where no fence could be erected. The technology being tested in the Dhubri region is a mix of surveillance and warning systems. The Chief Minister also briefed Home Minister about the prevailing situation along the Assam-Mizoram border.

The NRC update issue was also discussed during the meeting, officials said.

Earlier in the morning, Sonowal also called on transport secretary Yudhvir Singh Malik and discussed various issues related to promotion of transport and infrastructure in the state.