Assam-Bangladesh border fencing almost over, says minister

GUWAHATI - The Assam government Tuesday said that just a few kilometres of the 262-km land border the state shares with Bangladesh remained to be fenced, but a 10-km stretch ringed by water would continue to remain unfenced.

Assam Accord Implementation and Revenue Minister Bhumidhar Barman told the state assembly that barring the 10-km stretch, the barbed wire fencing for the remaining portion would be completed by March 2010.

“Just a few kilometers of the land border remain to be fenced now although a stretch of about 10 km would continue to remain unfenced as those areas are surrounded by water bodies. Besides severe erosion came in the way of erecting barbed fencing,” the minister said.

“There are few stretches that are also disputed and in adverse possession of Bangladesh. Hence fencing work could not be taken up,” Barman said in a written reply to a question by Asom Gana Parishad’s (AGP) Alaka Sarma.

The stretches where fencing work was not possible are in Assam’s Mancachar and Karimgang sectors.