NEW DELHI, April 5 � The stage is all set for the passage of the Land Ports Authority of India Bill, 2009 paving the way for creation of Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI).
The Land Ports Authority of India Bill, 2009, introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 7 last year, proposes establishment of the Authority for the development and management of facilities for cross-border movement of passengers and goods at designated points along the international borders of India.
While acknowledging the security concerns, the Bill, stated good border management is mandated by India's security concerns and, to this end, it is important to put in place systems, which address security imperatives while facilitating trade and commerce. The Bill therefore, aims at establishing Integrated Check Points at entry and exit points on international land borders through a plan scheme to regulate cross-border movement of persons and goods and also address security imperatives.
At least 13 Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) are proposed to be constructed on borders with Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar. The Government of India proposes to set up ICPs at Raxaul, Wagah, Petrapole, Moreh, Dawki, Akhaura, Jogbani in the first phase and Hili, Chandrabangha, Sutarkhandi, Kawarpuchiah, Sunauli, Rupaidiha and Nepalganj in the second phase.
With Bangladesh agreeing to open up its borders for trade and commerce and granting access to Chittagong Port for goods to and from North-East, a sense of urgency has gripped New Delhi to pass the Bill during the ongoing Budget Session of the Parliament. The Bill that was once introduced in Lok Sabha in 2008 had lapsed with the dissolution of the Lok Sabha in May 2009.
However, due to security concerns, the Parliamentary Panel flagged certain issues including illegal influx, smuggling of weapons, human trafficking. India has a large track of porous border with Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar, the Panel pointed out.
Concern over transhipment of arms from countries like Pakistan and China into Bangladesh and then taking the riverine route to India were pointed out. It was felt that the influx of arms and ammunition was turning the country into huge catchments of illegal weapons. Concern was expressed over the operation of fundamentalist and insurgent groups, jeopardizing the internal security in neighbouring Bangladesh.
Explaining the measures taken on the Indo-Bangladesh border, the Home Secretary told the committee that Government has taken steps to tackle smuggling of arms and ammunition from across Bangladesh border. India has taken up fencing and floodlighting of the Indo-Bangladesh border, which had been done partially.
In one of the borders, almost complete fencing had been done and to that extent, there was a considerable reduction in infiltration as well as smuggling. He, however, agreed that illegal infiltration of the people was still reported and on Bangladesh border, there were still a large number of areas, which were unfenced.
The Parliamentary Committee further said it was not convinced by the response of the Home Ministry about smuggling of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) as it continues unabated and on a large scale.
The Committee has suggested that adequate mechanism must be put in place to check the inflow of FICN in the country because such activities not only pose a serious threat to national security but also poses tremendous potential to wreck the national economy from inside.
The ICPs along the international borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar identified for up grade include Moreh in Manipur on Indo-Myanmar border to be up graded at a cost Rs 136 crore, Dawki ICP in Meghalaya bordering Bangladesh at the cost of Rs 50 crore and Petrapole in West Bengal at an estimated cost of Rs 172 crore.
The report on the Bill cleared by Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Home Affairs said that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry suggested that the construction of seven ICPs along Indo-Bangladesh border, three ICPs along Indo-Myanmar border at Moreh in Manipur, Pangshu Pass in Arunachal Pradesh and Zowkhathar in Mizoram, besides four ICPs along Indo-Nepal border.
Officials of Union Commerce and Industry Ministry stated that the check post at Nathula along Indo-China border had already been developed under a Scheme of the Ministry.
The Parliamentary Panel also expressed its dismay at the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs not to consult the concerned State Governments before piloting the Bill.
The Committee is constrained to note that the Ministry of Home Affairs did not consider it necessary to hold formal consultations with the concerned State Governments before piloting the Bill. The Ministry of Home Affairs ought to have held detailed consultation with the concerned States not only because these States would be tasked to provide land, basic infrastructure for ICPs, but also would be primarily instrumental in ensuring secure and safe ambiance for efficient functioning of ICPs within their jurisdictions, it commented.
