CCIBBF recommends fresh survey of Indo-Bangla border

Shillong, Dec 10 (UNI) The Coordination Committee on Indo-Bangladesh Border Fencing (CCIBBF) today submitted its report to Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang with a suggestion for conducting a fresh survey from border pillar 1251 to 1299.

Deputy Chief Minister Donkupar Roy, heading the Committee, submitted the report in presence of various leaders from social organisations and government officials.

Speaking to newsmen after the Committee submitted its report, CCIBBF member G H Kharshanlor said the Committee had suggested for a fresh survey from border pillar 1251 to 1299 at Nongjri and Jaliakhola before fencing.

Fencing from zero line in Hingiria, Huroi to Umkiang had also been suggested, he asserted.

Mr Kharshanlor said the report also suggested the government to instruct the Jaintia Hills district administration to verify area of dispute between the locals and the Forest department at Mikirpara village.

The CCIBF also recommended the government to ask the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) to compensate for the damages done to agricultural land of the people in the process of fencing, besides, setting up of border outposts along the border had been suggested.

Earlier, five-mass organisations under the banner of Coordination Committee on International Border (CCIB) opposed the Centre's decision to fence the porous Indo- Bangla border, 150 yards from the zero line.

The NGOs had demanded to erect the fence from the zero line to ensure that the land outside the fence were not being encroached by Bangladeshi nationals.

At least 40 villages had demanded for fresh demarcation of the Indo-Bangla border, as they were not happy with the proposed arrangement of working on their agricultural land beyond the fence.

Of the total 423-km-long border Meghalaya shares with Bangladesh, about 20 km are under ''adverse possession'' of the neighbouring country.

UNI