Shillong, Nov 30: The problem related to land acquisition has delayed the construction of fencing along the Indo-Bangla border in Meghalaya.
“About 70 per cent fencing has been completed while around 30 percent is still pending to be completed because of certain issues including land acquisition problem,” BSF DIG, D Haokip told reporters on Tuesday.
He said the portion where fencing could not be taken up is mainly in East Khasi Hills and certain patches in West Jaintia Hills.
Meghalaya got Rs 104.64 crore for the construction of border fencing.
On the fears of losing land to Bangladesh, the official said, “By saying that land will be falling to Bangladesh it is not correct because the international boundaries are also marked (and) already well demarcated so how it can go to other countries.”
Regarding the construction of fencing on zero line, the BSF official said they wanted that it should be there but there is an international norm that any construction has to be carried out beyond 150 yards from the international border. This is applicable not only to the BSF not only to India but also applicable to the neighbouring country like Bangladesh…that international norm we have to follow it.Yes on humanitarian ground in patches where villages are right on the border or near to the border, we take a permission or a concurrence from the government of Bangladesh through the BGB then single row fencing is constructed right on the border according to the situation on the ground.”
