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Bangla objection hits border fencing work

By R Dutta Choudhury

GUWAHATI, June 6 - Construction of a portion of fencing along the India-Bangladesh border in Karimganj district has been delayed because of the refusal of the Government of Bangladesh to accord permission to construct a permanent flood control embankment-cum-road on the bank of the Kushiara river.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Bangladesh has conveyed the decision to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and said that such construction would �narrow down� the flow of the river and cause river erosion on Bangladesh side.

Meanwhile, a report of the Border Management Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that the Government had proposed to construct 4.35 kilometers of fencing at a distance of 10 to 15 meters from the river Kushiara. As the alignment of the fencing was within 150 yards from the international boundary, approval of the Border Guards Bangladesh was taken as per the requirement of the joint India-Bangladesh guidelines for border management.

The report said that subsequently, the Government of Assam desired that the alignment of the fencing should be shifted towards the Kushiara river so that the entire Karimganj district can be brought under the fencing. As per the request of the State Government, the alignment of the fencing was shifted at a distance of five meters from the river. But while doing that a new problem cropped up. As the fencing has to be constructed close to the river, there was apprehension that the fencing may be affected by erosion and a new plan had to be prepared incorporating river bank protection work to ensure that the fencing lasts a long time.

The Border Management division report revealed that the construction of the fencing in the area started in August, 2015 along the river Kushiara, but it had to be stopped in the month of November in the same year because of opposition by the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB). The BGB was strongly opposing the execution of the river protection work in the area. The matter was taken up with the senior officers of the BGB by the Border Security Force (BSF). The Ministry of External Affairs also took up the matter with the Government of Bangladesh. However, the Government of the neighbouring country said that it would not be able to grant permission for it.

Following the refusal of the Government of Bangladesh to accord permission to construct river bank protection embankment, the BSF tried to explore the possibility for an alternative design of the fence in consultation with the BGB, but the clearance of the BGB is awaited.

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