The Co-Ordination Committee on International Border (CCIB) has urged the West Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner to postpone the proposed joint inspection to be carried out for the purpose of erection of international border fencing in the West Jaintia Hills sector of the Indo-Bangladesh border.
CCIB members on Monday submitted their objection to the inspection at the office of the Deputy Commissioner through the Additional DC (Revenue) H.M.L. Kynta.
The inspection is scheduled on May 20 at Amjalong, Kyrweng and Jaliakhola villages
The committee cited said the matter is sub-Judice pending verdict of the Meghalaya High Court.
CCIB Chairman Sukkynjai Myrchiang told reporters landowners are against the proposed fencing as their cultivable lands will be affected.
CCIB and land owners have opposed the erection of the border fence at 150 yards from the zero line. They said that the fencing should be done at the zero line itself so that landowners do not lose away their agricultural land.
According to an established treaty between the two countries, no permanent structures are allowed to be set up within 150m of the border.
Recently, the State government has instructed Deputy Commissioners of districts along the Indo-Bangladesh border to consider the completion of fencing on the international boundary to be a top priority.
The border has become a hot button issue with illegal migration, smuggling, a not-so-friendly government in charge in Dhaka and the potential even for Pakistan-based terrorists to come into the country from Bangladesh all raising concern in Indian government circles.
Meghalaya shares a 443km-long border with Bangladesh, which over 40 km is unfenced.
