Meghalaya's border with Bangladesh fenced upto 231 kms

Shillong, July 5 (UNI) Out of the 443 kms of the Indo-Bangladesh border falling in Meghalaya about 231.340 kms, has been fenced, state Home Minister Robert Garnett Lyngdoh informed the Assembly today.

Mr Lyngdoh said at present fencing work was going on in areas where there were no ''dispute'' while in some areas fencing has been kept in abeyance due to ''dispute''.

In order to sort out the ''dispute,'' the Home Minister said, Deputy Commissioners of the concerned districts, bordering Bangladesh, have been directed to consult the landowners to sort out the problem before erecting the fence.

A Co-ordination Committee, headed by Chief Minister J D Rymbai, has been formed to sort out the disputes amicably, he added.

The Committee, also includes some state NGOs, who are protesting against fencing of the porous Indo-Bangla border, 150 yards from the Zero line.

Replying to a supplementary question raised by Meghalaya Democratic Party MLA D P Iangjuh, the Home Minister said no land compensation was given to any landowners. However, he maintained land compensation would be paid to landowners whose lands have been acquired by the government.

The Home Minister said the villagers have also realised the benefits of fencing with a decline in cases of dacoities, theft and stealing of crops during harvesting by people from across the border and the infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals.

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