Indo-Bangladesh border fencing to b

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Indo-Bangladesh border fencing to be completed

The Asian Age (New Delhi)
May 24, 2000

New Delhi, May 23: The Centre has decided to fence the remaining stretch
of Indo-Bangladesh border spread over 2,429 km to check sustained
illegal migration from across the border, which affects not only the
demographic composition, especially in Northeast states, but threatens
internal security as well.

Conceding to the long-standing demand of the northeastern states, the
Centre is also going ahead with the construction of 797 km border road,
said an official spokesman of the Union home ministry.

This is apart from the fact that the construction of roads, fences and
bridges are already going on.

The cost of fencing the border as well as laying of roads would come to
around Rs 1,334 crore, the spokesman said. The work on the project
covering five border states ? Assam, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Mizoram,
and Tripura ? would start March this year and end by 2007, he said.

Border fencing will be maximum along the border with West Bengal with
1,201 km of followed by Tripura (736 km), Mizoram (400 km), Meghalaya
(198 km) and Assam (71.5 km), he said.

The existing project for the construction of border roads and border
fencing at a fixes cost estimate of Rs 1,042 crore is expected to be
completed by march nest year, the spokesman said. Construction is
already going on laying 2313.07 km road, 818.96 km fence and 20014.96
metres bridge.

?Illegal migration of Bangladesh nationals into India is a cause of
great concern and vitally affects the security interest of the country.
The continuous and sustained migration also affects the demographic
composition of population, specially in the neighbouring states and
gives rise to social tensions,? the officer said.

The government also proposed to strengthen deployment of BSF so as to
reduce distance  between BOPs and for more intensive patrolling on the
border. The work of construction is entrusted to CPWD in West Bengal and
Border Road Organisation in other states. Meanwhile, the Centre has
enhanced the financial assistance to states under scheme for
modernisation of  the police from Rs 50 crore to Rs 200 crore.