Concurrence is being awaited from the Bangladesh Government for taking up fencing in over 38 villages, which are located within 150 yards from the international border in Meghalaya, BSF DIG Parveen Bakshi said.
“These cases are pending with the Bangladesh government and we are waiting for the concurrence,” he told reporters in Shillong.
According to him, there could be few villages of the 38 which are just touching the border (zero line).
When asked, Bakshi said, “Once the concurrence is received then the fence will be realigned and will be erected as per the concurrence.”
He informed that so far concurrence for at least six of the thirty-eight villages has been received. “There the fence is being erected within 150 yards,” he added.
Stating that 75 per cent of the border is already fenced, the BSF DIG said that fencing could not be taken up in around 53 kilometers as land acquisition process is still on.
“Hopefully by the end of 2022, we will be able to complete around 90 per cent of the fence (but this is) subject to the availability of land,” he asserted.
Bakshi said that fencing work has not been stopped in any stretch.
“Wherever land is available the work has been allotted and is going on,” he said.
On the recent recovery of arms and ammunition in South West Khasi Hills, the DIG said that one revolver marked as USA with two magazines and live ammunition were recovered during a joint operation carried between the BSF and the state police while acting on a tip off.
“However, it cannot be said it belongs to whom but they must have either left this job or they might have hid it for later use...,” he added.
Regarding the difficulties faced by the BSF due to elephant corridors, Bakshi said, “The difficulties being faced is if the area is fenced, elephants will come and damage the fence and even if somebody is on duty his life is also some time endangered and when the herd moves these smugglers can also take advantage of that area following the herds that is also there.”
He however said if the BSF personnel know beforehand, they would often keep the gates open so that the elephants can cross over without damaging the fence.
Meanwhile, efforts are also on to facilitate future surrendering of militants who are taking shelter in Bangladesh soil, Bakshi added.
