Shillong, Jan 31: The Coordination Committee for International Border (CCIB) has stepped up its opposition to the construction of the border fencing along the international border with Bangladesh and wants a resolution to the issue before the erection goes ahead.
General Secretary of the CCIB, Kmen Myrchiang stated that many residents living along the Indo-Bangla border have land documents dated before independence, but such areas are now outside the boundary.
Myrchiang said that even Bangladesh knows that their lands belong to the people living inside India. “Some even have documents which were issued by the British. How can you now say that this land belongs to Bangladesh when we possess documents,” he said.
He said that the government is adopting a step-motherly attitude to the problems of the border residents even after various requests were made seeking help to resolve the matter.
Myrchiang said that the border residents are not aware of the 2011 India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Protocol, signed on September 6, 2011.
“Why we as land owners were not informed of this agreement. This agreement came as a surprise to us, to learn that the government has signed the protocol,” he added.
According to him, the 2011 India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Protocol, signed on September 6, 2011 and ratified in 2015, is now the permanent boundary between the two countries.
He reiterated why didn’t the government did not invite those affected villagers for a public hearing so that the latter can prove their claim of ownership over the lands.
Myrchiang said that the border residents are not opposed to the fencing but their point is that they do not want to lose their lands.
The CCIB general secretary said that, in states like Tripura fencing is done 5-10 metres from the boundary pillars. “If the government does that like it is being done in Tripura and other parts we will accept it,” he added.
Myrchiang also said that the government is not addressing their grievances and therefore they have to fight for their rights.
The CCIB secretary said that in Elaka Satpator, the land owners did farming activities but all of a sudden in 2022-23, the Dolloi claimed the lands and therefore in November 22, 2023 attended a meeting in the Deputy Commissioner’s office in West Jaintia Hills and in the minutes it was shown that he was there as a land owner and it was him who gave the land for border fencing.
Myrchiang said that the government from Muktapur-Jaliakhola-Pasadwar (Border Pillar No 1283/7s) to border pillar No 1301/4s recognized these to belong to the Dolloi of Satpator.
“The Dolloi gave his consent without the knowledge of the land owners and therefore the NBCC started fencing along this stretch,” he added.
The CCIB general secretary has also clarified that many think that compensation will be paid for the 150 yards (Pillar to Fencing which is around 137.4 metre), but according to the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, owners will get remunerated only for 11 metres, which is three metres for fencing and eight metres for the road along the fencing.
Meanwhile, on the recent statement of the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma that the fencing should be completed in an aggressive manner, Myrchiang asked why he does not visit the areas where fencing is underway with his own eyes.
“Come and see the reality and assess whether it is all right for us as landowners to lose our lands,” the CCIB general secretary asked.
