Meghalaya pushes for early resolution of land hurdles to speed up border fencing

CORRESPONDENT

Shillong: In a bid to expedite the long-pending fencing work along the Indo-Bangladesh border, the Meghalaya government has directed deputy commissioners of Khasi and Jaintia Hills to immediately resolve all land-related issues hindering progress. The directive was issued during a high-level review meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Home (Police), Prestone Tynsong, in the presence of the Inspector General of BSF Meghalaya Frontier and officials of NBCC.

“I had a review meeting with all the district collectors, and I have instructed all of them, and I am very sure maybe within a few weeks from now we will be able to resolve the (land) issue,” Tynsong told reporters.

He said, “We really wanted to complete those portions where the fencing is incomplete at the earliest possible time because by having the fencing, the state and central agencies, including BSF, can easily monitor as far as infiltration of those people from outside is concerned.”

Tynsong informed that around 33 to 34 kilometres of the border in West Jaintia Hills and about 7 to 8 kilometres in East Khasi Hills remain unfenced due to land acquisition bottlenecks.

“I have instructed all deputy commissioners of East Jaintia Hills and West Jaintia Hills and other districts to again revisit and to consider this issue a top priority, as you know well the situation in the country as a whole and especially for northeastern states, which are bordering Bangladesh and are not that conducive,” he stated.

Tynsong said the state government had already taken up the matter with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

“In this context what we have done is we have written a letter to the MHA to consider those points or those particular locations where we have to make sure the village or the habitation is within the fencing. We have written a letter to the MHA, and the MHA has also considered this, and more challenges are there, as two or three places are also there where we are still awaiting the approval of the MHA,” he added.

Asserting that the border situation remains under control, the deputy chief minister said, “All along the international border between Bangladesh and India, all different agencies are on the grassroot, and the activities, whatever required to be done from the state government as well as from the central government agencies, they are on the ground, and we will make sure the safety and security of our people are intact.”

Also Read: Shillong beckons tourists despite pre-monsoon rains

Also Watch: