Apex court sets up panel to expedite work

INDO-BANGLA BORDER FENCING

From a Correspondent

New Delhi, Nov 5: Taking note of the procrastition by both the Central and State governments regarding the India-Bangladesh border fencing work, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed setting up of a "coordition committee" to look into the matter.

This committee will work out all issues related to border fencing, particularly how to complete the work within the stipulated time frame. It will have to report to the apex court on December 1.

A two-member bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice N Fali riman has asked Dispur and New Delhi to constitute the coordition committee which will be led by Union Home ministry's Border Magement Secretary and the Chief Secretary of Assam.

The apex court took the decision after the one-man committee of Upamanyu Hazarika appointed by the apex court submitted its report recently.

The committee had detected several loopholes in the border fencing work.

The committee has reportedly made several recommendations, including creation of a 'sterile zone' along the Indo-Bangladesh border. Although the operatiol agency guarding the border on the ground is clearly in favour of creation of a sterile zone, a policy decision from the Central and State government is still awaited.

The committee in its report totally laid bare the threat posed by the ubated influx from Bangladesh.

On the other hand, referring to the NRC update issue, the Supreme Court has asked the State government to expedite the process and extend all assistance to the NRC State coorditor Prateek Hazela.

"On December 1, the NRC coorditor has to report to the court about the work progress, verification of documents and difficulties if any," said Assam Public Works president Aabhijeet Sharma.

Meanwhile, the All Assam Students Union (AASU) has also welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court to set up the coordition committee on border fencing.

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