Fencing at the Indo-Bangladesh border has pushed 82 families of Rongara-Siju constituency in South Garo Hills in the ‘no man’s zone’ as norms were flouted.
This was stated by cabinet minister and MLA of the constituency, Rakkam Sangma today. He said the issue will be taken up with the Home Ministry as these families now fear being tagged along with Bangladesh.
He said the families are Indians and have been pushed to the Bangladesh side after the erection of the border fencing. “Most of the construction of the Indo-Bangladesh fence is not as per the norms,” he stated.
“We are moving the ministry to do something for their re-location” he added.
Sangma said fencing at the border to check infiltration from Bangladesh into India is supposed to be done 150 yards (137 metre) away from the zero line, which is not followed at many places, thus leaving Indian land on the Bangladesh side.
“Most of the fence is constructed beyond 150, 300, 400 and 500 meters and in the process many of our land has gone away to Bangladesh,” he said.
It may be mentioned that out of 443km of the Indo-Bangla border in Meghalaya, a large part in Khasi and Jaintia Hills is yet to be fenced.
Earlier this year, the State government had written a letter to the ministry pushing for fencing only on the Zero Line, which is the actual boundary between the two countries and not inside Indian territory.
Under a 1975 agreement, there can be no permanent structures built within 150m of the international border on both sides. This has been interpreted to mean that India cannot build its border fence on the border but only 150 metres inside its own territory.
