Border fencing with Bangladesh in Meghalaya sector stalled

Shillong, May 6 (UNI) Meghalaya Chief Minister Donkupar Roy today said the fencing work along the porous Indo-Bangladesh border in the state had been temporarily kept in abeyance.

''At present, the Centre has decided not to take up the fencing work in areas of adverse possession,'' Dr Roy informed the Meghalaya Assembly in the course of his reply during the Question Hour.

He said the fencing work between Nongjri in East Khasi Hills and Jaliakhola areas in Jaintia Hills districts was suspended on the recommendation of the co-ordination committee on International Border Fencing, which suggested that fresh survey should be carried out in these areas.

Replying to a question raised by Opposition member Lahkmen Rymbui (Congress), the Chief Minister said the boundary had been actually demarcated by the erstwhile East Pakistan and India in the mid 1960s.

''The boundary of Meghalaya starts from boundary pillar no 1071 located at the tri-junction of Rangpur district of Bangladesh, West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya and Goalpara district of Assam and ends at the boundary pillar no 1338 at the tri-junction of Sylhet district of Bangladesh, Jaintia Hills district and Cachar district of Assam,'' he informed the House.

He said as a result of the demarcation of the international boundary, certain areas were held by either country falling within the others' territory, commonly known as ''adverse possession''.

Informing the House that the total adversely held areas between Meghalaya (India) and Bangladesh were 11, Dr Roy said the adverse areas held by India in Meghalaya sector includes Lyngkhat, Kurinallah, Pyrdiwah in East Khasi Hills district, Tamabil, Naljuri Rongkhong, Amki, Amjlong and Muktapur in Jaintia Hills district.

The Chief Minister also said the adverse areas held by Bangladesh were Boro Hills, Lobhacherra and Nuncherra Tea Gardens.

To a question, Dr Roy said the state government expected the Centre to take initiative to sort out the boundary dispute between the two countries at the earliest.

UNI RRK DPM JT AS1529