Current alignment will split some villages, cut off farmland: Tynsong
Shillong, June 17: The state government would take up with the Centre the demand for realignment of the Indo-Bangla border in some sections in the Meghalaya sector even as it welcomed the overall border fencing project.
The demand for realignment of the proposed border fencing was raised as the proposed alignment in two cases – Lyngkhong and Raid Nongskhen – would split villages and deprive the villagers’ access to their farmland.
Clarifying the government’s stand on the border fencing project on Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home Prestone Tynsong said, “People of the state are not at all against the fencing. Border fencing is a must and is very necessary.”
However, he flagged practical problems arising out of the current alignment.
“In the process of fencing… in a few villages like Lyngkhong and some more like in Raid Nongskhen, half of the village is outside the fencing. Number two is, again, the farming place that they use every year is also outside the fencing,” he said.
Tynsong said the issue was discussed internally and will be taken up with Delhi.
“We would also like to apprise the government of India of this issue. If possible, we request them to kindly go further down, maybe towards the zero line, so that the space that we have and are utilising for farming activities is not wasted at all…. we will take it up with the Central government,” he added.
