India to complete fencing on border by March 2012
Thursday, 11 November 2010
NEW DELHI, Nov 10 (BSS): Indian state minister for Home Affairs Mr. Mullappally Ramachandran today informed the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) that fencing work along the Indo-Bangladesh border will be completed by March 2012.
Responding to a question, the Minister said that the Indian Government has approved construction of border fencing over a length of 3,436 km.
"The work on border fencing is going on. So far, 2,734 km. fencing has been completed. The work is scheduled to be completed by March, 2012," Mr. Ramachandran told the House.
Continuing, he said that the Indo-Bangladesh border is characterized by hilly terrain, densely forested and riverine areas and thick population exists up to zero line (international border).
"There are many towns and villages and important establishments having huge population till zero line. In these identified patches fencing, which is generally being done at 150 yards, is not possible," he added.
The Home Minister further added that as per preliminary survey done by the Indian Border Guarding Force, there are about 265 patches involving a total length of about 297 km. where fencing may be required from zero line to 150 yards.
The Indian Home Minister referred to the Home Secretary level talks between India and Bangladesh held in November 2009, at New Delhi, and said "the Bangladesh Government had agreed that fencing could be done at or zero line in a single layer without gates, where fencing is not possible at 150 yards."
"Accordingly, joint verification exercises were carried out by border guarding forces of both the countries and fencing has started in few agreed patches. The process is going on," he said.
Responding to a question, the Minister said that the Indian Government has approved construction of border fencing over a length of 3,436 km.
"The work on border fencing is going on. So far, 2,734 km. fencing has been completed. The work is scheduled to be completed by March, 2012," Mr. Ramachandran told the House.
Continuing, he said that the Indo-Bangladesh border is characterized by hilly terrain, densely forested and riverine areas and thick population exists up to zero line (international border).
"There are many towns and villages and important establishments having huge population till zero line. In these identified patches fencing, which is generally being done at 150 yards, is not possible," he added.
The Home Minister further added that as per preliminary survey done by the Indian Border Guarding Force, there are about 265 patches involving a total length of about 297 km. where fencing may be required from zero line to 150 yards.
The Indian Home Minister referred to the Home Secretary level talks between India and Bangladesh held in November 2009, at New Delhi, and said "the Bangladesh Government had agreed that fencing could be done at or zero line in a single layer without gates, where fencing is not possible at 150 yards."
"Accordingly, joint verification exercises were carried out by border guarding forces of both the countries and fencing has started in few agreed patches. The process is going on," he said.