Fencing Along Indo-Bangladesh Border
The Government has sanctioned fencing to the extent of 3326.14 km along the Indo-Bangladesh Border under two phases. The Phase-I project has been completed in the year 2000 under which 854.35 km fence was erected. Under Phase-II, 1973.572 km fence work has been completed.
An expenditure of Rs.1059 crore was incurred for construction of fence and roads under Phase-I. The Government has sanctioned 2468.77 km of fence and 1512.68 km of roads under Phase-II project at an estimated cost of Rs.4393.69 crore. The Phase-II project was targeted to be completed by 31.03.2014. However, the same has spilled over due to delay in land acquisition by the State Government concerned, public protest, delay in forest/wildlife clearances, difficult terrain, prolonged monsoon season in North Eastern areas, etc.
The other measures taken by the Government to prevent infiltration along the Indo-Bangladesh border are as follows:
• Effective domination of the border by the Border Security Force (BSF) through carrying out round the clock surveillance of the border by patrolling nakas (border ambushes) and by deploying observation posts all along the Indo-Bangladesh border.
• The riverine segments of Indo-Bangladesh Border are being patrolled and dominated with the help of water crafts/speed boats/floating Border Out Posts (BOPs) of BSF water wings.
• Usage of Hi-Tech surveillance equipments along with day and night vision devices for further enhancing the border domination.
• Vulnerability mapping of the Border Out Posts (BOPs) which are sensitive with regard to illegal migration/human trafficking along the Border has been carried out. These identified BOPs have been strengthened by deploying additional manpower, Special Surveillance Equipment, vehicles and other infrastructure support.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply to Dr. Sanjay Sinh in the Rajya Sabha today.
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KSD/PK/BK/RS