Shillong, Aug 7: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday said that 80-90 per cent of the Indo-Bangla border has already been fenced, and efforts are underway to complete the remaining 40-44 km stretch on a war footing.
Sangma acknowledged that local concerns and socio-political issues had slowed down the fencing process in some areas. He noted that 40 pc of the unfenced border is enough for somebody to cause damage if they want to.
However, he added that most of these issues have now been resolved through engagement with grassroots people and discussions at the deputy commissioner’s level.
The chief minister expressed hope that the construction of border fencing in areas where local consent has been obtained will start on a war footing, pending administrative procedures.
“I have taken a review on this about a month and a half back and I could see in that review also that out of the 40 km hardly about 4-5 km where we are having now very detail problems still people are not on board and we are still working on them,” Sangma told reporters.
“I have informed this to Union Home Minister and MHA and I expect the works for these areas where the public has given consent will start on a war footing because normal administrative issues are there but the socio-political issues are now resolved in that 40 km, most of it and now the administrative procedures is required,” he said while expressing hope to resolve the issue very soon.
