Border 'haats' outside the fence of Indo-Bangla border mooted

Shillong, Nov 9 (UNI) Meghalaya Chief Minister Donkupar Roy has mooted the idea of re-opening the age-old border 'haats' (market) outside the fence of the Indo-Bangla Desh border.

''The need of opening up these border haats is self-evident for the benefit of the people living in those border areas,'' Dr Roy said.

Once the rich people in Meghalaya were those from areas along the Indo-Bangla border, but economic viability was jeopardised post-partition and post-Independence, he said.

''Why not, we open up those weekly markets outside the border fence now, which still falls under the Indian territory,'' the Chief Minister said.

Dr Roy said the haats could be opened up with proper monitoring, while keeping a watch on the cross-border infiltration.

In fact, the Border Security Force has proposed to reopen two border 'haats' on the Meghalaya-Bangladesh border on the basis of a pilot project.

The border haats would be located at Dawki and Bholaganj.

UNI RRK SB BDP CS1855