All-party meet expresses fear of losing large area due to fencing

Aizawl, June 20 (UNI) An all-party meeting in Mizoram has warned that large area of the state would be lost due to border fencing.

The meeting, spearheaded by the Young Mizo Association, the largest NGO in the state, decided to visit the ongoing Indo-Bangla border fencing site at the earliest.

Earlier, a source had said since the Indo-Bangla border fencing was constructed at about 50 to 250 mt from the actual border inside Mizoram, large area of land would be lost.

Mizoram shares 318-km-long border with Bangladesh.

Sources said many Indian villagers, mostly Chakmas with a few Mizos, along the border had been rendered landless apart from the fact that they would no more be able to be benefited from the natural resources.

''Since time immemorial both Indian and Bangla villagers along the border have been practising an unofficial across-the-border trade, and a good relationship has been built among them. This alone is a great loss to the villagers,'' the sources added.

Besides, the border fencing would prevent across-the-border animal movement, which will be a great loss for animal population of Mizoram, according to animal activists here.

''Animals are not restricted by political boundaries and they move from one place to another as seasons change. So sealing the border is a clear violation of animal rights,'' well-known animal rights activist New World Laldingliana said.

He said the Indo-Bangladesh border fencing will adversely affect the Dampa Tiger Reserve, near the Bangladesh border in Mizoram.

''Washington-based Conservation International has identified at least 7,000 endemic species at Indo-Myanmar border area, which is also being included among world's top 30 bio-diversity hotspots. It is certain that a border fencing would destroy this, '' the activist warned.

Mizoram shares 404-km-long border with Myanmar.

UNI