Fencing on Indo-Bangla border to be replaced

Shillong, Apr 20 (UNI) The Centre has decided to replace the entire 854 km of fence constructed under Phase I in Asom, Meghalaya and West Bengal, as most of it has been damaged, official sources said here today.

The replacement, brought on by adverse climatic conditions, repeated submergence, and other such factors has already started in Asom and West Bengal.

The Union government has allowed fencing in two phases, a total length of 3,286.87 km in the Indo-Bangladesh border, out of a total length of 4096.7 km, in order to prevent illegal infiltration and other anti-national activities.

Out of this, about 2,455.80 km had been completed till December 31, 2006, in Asom, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and West Bengal.

A Pilot Project for flood lighting along 277 km of the international border has also been completed. Various government departments, including the BRO and PWD, were engaged in the project.

UNI