By Ravinder Singh : India’s borders with neighbouring countries are quite porous. The geographical, ethnic and cultural similarities on either side of border clubbed with better economic opportunities on Indian side makes borders vulnerable to infiltration, smuggling and other cross-border violations. The Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach to safeguard its borders from anti-social elements. Fencing and flood lighting of the border are important constituents of maintaining vigilance along the borders. In order to curb infiltration, smuggling and other anti-national activities from across Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh borders, the Government has undertaken the work of construction of fencing, flood lighting and roads along these borders.
Vigil along Indo-Bangladesh Border
India has a 4097 km border with Bangladesh. The Indo-Bangladesh border passes through West Bengal (2216.7 km), Assam (263 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Tripura (856 km) and Mizoram (318 km). The entire stretch consists of plain, riverine belts, hillsand jungles, with hardly any natural obstacles. The area is heavily populated and cultivated right upto the border.
Fencing
The main problem is of illegal migration from Bangladesh into India. In order to prevent infiltration and other anti-national activities from across the border, the Government had sanctioned the construction of border roads and fencing in two phases. The total length of the Indo-Bangladesh border sanctioned to be fenced is 3436.56 km Of this, 2712.81 km of fencing has so far been completed as on January 31, 2010 and the work on the remaining 725 km is currently underway. There have been some problems in construction of fencing in certain stretches on this border due to riverine/low lying areas, population within 150 yards of the border and pending land acquisition cases, which have led to delay in completion of the project. Though the schedule date for completion of the project is March 2010, it is likely to spill over due to ground level constraints.
Apart from border fencing, 3330.32 km of border roads have also been constructed out of the sanctioned length of 4326.24 km.
A major part of the fencing constructed under the Phase-I in West Bengal, Assam and Meghalaya has been damaged due to adverse climatic conditions, repeated submergence etc. The Government has sanctioned Phase-III for erection of 861 km of fencing, replacing the entire fencing constructed under Phase-I at an estimated cost of Rs.884 crore. The work has been assigned to Central Public Works Department, National Buildings Construction Corporation and National Project Construction Corporation. 494 km of fencing has been replaced so far and the entire project is expected to be completed by March 2010.
Floodlighting
The Government has decided to undertake floodlighting in the states of West Bengal, Meghalaya, Assam, Mizoram and Tripura in 2840 km along the Indo-Bangladesh border at an estimate cost of Rs.1327 crore. 277 km of floodlighting has been completed in West Bengal as a pilot project. During January 2010, poles were erected on a length of 50 km and cables were laid on a length of 30 km The work has been assigned to the Central Public Works Department, Engineering Project India Limited and National Project Construction Corporation. The work is scheduled to be completed by 2011-12.
Fencing and floodlighting along Indo-Pakistan Border
India shares 3323 km [including Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu & Kashmir sector] of its land border with Pakistan. This border runs along the States of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and J&K. The Indo-Pakistan border has varied terrain and distinct geographical features. This border is characterized by attempts at infiltration by terrorists and smuggling of arms, ammunition and contraband, the LoC being the most active and live portion. Of the 2043.63 km of Indo-Pak border identified for fencing the work has been completed on 1915.72 km. as on November 30, 2009. Floodlighting work has been completed along 1861.92 km of the total of 2009.52 km length to be floodlit.
A total length of 462.45 km and 460.72 km has been fenced and flood lit respectively in the entire Punjab sector, except some gaps in riverine areas. In Rajasthan sector also, the work of construction of fencing and flood lighting in 1048.27 km and 1022.80 km respectively has been completed except certain shifting sand dune areas.
In Jammu sector, the work of construction of 186 km of fencing has been completed. 176.40 km of floodlighting works have also been completed.
For the Gujarat Sector, the Government had approved a comprehensive proposal for erecting fence, floodlighting and construction of border/link roads and Border Out-Posts for Border Security Force. Works of 219 km of fencing, 202 km of flood lighting and 241 km of border roads have been completed so far in this sector out of 340 km sanctioned.
Costs Revised
The Government has approved the extension of time for completion of the fencing and floodlighting project and revised the cost to Rs.1201 crore, against original sanction of Rs.380 crore. The project is targeted to be completed by March 2012 or three working seasons after the work is started.
It has been decided to shift 38.01 km of fencing erected on Jammu International Border and 23.38 km of fencing and floodlighting in Punjab sector close to the border to facilitate the border inhabitants to cultivate their lands without problems. Presently, the work of earth levelling, erection of pickets and barbed wire is in progress.
It is hoped that the complete fencing and floodlighting of our international borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh will help keep an effective vigil on our borders and would go a long way in checking the illegal migration from across the borders and other illegal trans-border activities.