BSF submits proposal for fencing in Indo-Bangla border

Pradipta Tapadar Kolkata, Aug 21 (PTI) Amid growing concerns overterrorists using the porous Indo-Bangla border, the BSF hassubmitted a detailed proposal to the West Bengal governmentabout the amount of land needed for setting up fences in ahighly sensitive 81.7 km area on an urgent basis. The issue of erecting fences along the internationalIndo-Bangla border was in cold storage for last several years.It was taken up just months after the terror attack in Dhakaand various intelligence inputs about how the porous Indo-Bangla border is fast turning into a transit point forterrorists and cattle smugglers. "The matter of identifying land and survey of land washeld back since 2009. But recently the state government hadsought detailed proposals from us regarding the amount of landthat is required in the south Bengal frontier. "We have placed a detailed report about the amount ofland and alignment that is needed and other basics that isrequired by the BSF," Sandeep Salunke, Inspector General BSF(South Bengal frontier) told PTI. According to Salunke, that the BSF had handed over adetailed report of land plots needed in North 24 Parganas,Nadia and Murshidabad district to fence 81.7 km without delay. Bangladesh and West Bengal share about 2,216.7 km ofborder. "Out of the 915 km of border in the South Bengal frontieronly 371 km is fenced. So we have sent the proposal forsetting up fences in 81.7 km at an urgent basis. These areasare highly sensitive. Fencing would be an added advantage inborder patrolling," a senior BSF official said. According to state secretariat sources, the report washanded to the state chief secretary and home secretary and theprocess for the survey of the land has already started. "Yes we had received a report from them. Now the statehas land purchase committee, under the state owns land policy,which will look into it. The BSF will pay for the land and itwill be registered under BSF only. "The process of survey of that land and alignment hasstarted on an war footing. The entire process will becompleted very soon," a senior official of the state homedepartment told PTI on condition of anonymity. More PTI PNT NNAAR DVAAR