NEW DELHI, April 11 - Alarmed by unabated illegal infiltration, smuggling, narcotics trafficking and terror funding from across the border into the North East, the Centre has firmed up plans to systematically fence the international border with neighbouring countries.
In order to curb the cross-border illegal activities perpetrated by insurgents as well as illegal migration, bilateral talks with neighbouring countries on security-related issues are held at different levels regularly. Due to cooperation by Bangladesh and Myanmar, activities of Indian Insurgents Groups (IIGs) have been contained, said an MHA report.
Various insurgent groups operating in the North Eastern Region are getting logistic support, financial assistance and shelter from neighbouring countries. In order to enhance the operational capability of the border guarding force and address connectivity issues, a border infrastructure project involving construction of roads and helipads along the Indo Myanmar border is being planned. New Company Operating Bases (COBs) are also being planned to be set up closer to the Indo-Myanmar border, said the report.
For instance, along the Indo Myanmar border, 10 km fencing between BP No. 79-81 at Moreh has been approved at Rs 35.99 crore. A fencing of approximately four km has been completed and an amount of Rs 22.41 crore has been released and utilised. The SSB has deployed 45 battalions and 25 area of civil components along the Indo-Nepal and the Indo-Bhutan borders along with revamping of the
intelligence apparatus in the bordering region. The SSB has established 473 BOPs on the Indo-Nepal border and 153 BOPs on the Indo-Bhutan border. The ITBP has established 173 BOPs along the Indo-China border, said the report.
India shares a 1643-km border with Myanmar. Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Nagaland (215 km), Manipur (398 km) and Mizoram (510 km) have common borders with Myanmar. Out of the 1,643 km, the demarcation of 1,472 km has been completed. There are only two undemarcated portions along the Indo-Myanmar border: Lohit sub-sector of Arunachal Pradesh � 136 km, Kabaw Valley in Manipur � 35 km, border fencing between boundary pillar No. 79 and No. 81 in Moreh, the report said.
The Government has allocated a fund of Rs 35.98 crore for the fencing works. Land has been acquired and all necessary clearances have been obtained from the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The Government has released a fund of Rs16.38 crore to the Border Roads Organisation, the executing agency, and the fencing work on a stretch of 4.02 km has been completed. However, the fencing work has been stopped due to protests from the Government of Manipur and the local people.
The situation arising out of lack of infrastructure along the Indo-China border and for the effective movement of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Ministry of Home Affairs has undertaken the construction of 27 roads measuring 804.93 km at an estimated cost of Rs 1,937 crore. These roads are being constructed along the Indo-China border in Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
To improve the security environment along the Indo-Bhutan border measuring 699 km, the SSB has been deployed. A bilateral mechanism in the shape of a secretary-level India-Bhutan Group on border management and security already exists.
The Government of India has approved of construction of 313 km border road at a cost of Rs 1,259 crore in Assam along the Indo-Bhutan border. The construction work has not yet started due to pending land acquisition. The Government of India has approved of an amount of Rs 9.88 crore for preparing the detailed project report. The DPR is under preparation by the Assam PWD. Tenders have been floated, said the report.
