AGARTALA, July 15 (TIWN): In view of fast completion of remaining 135.33 km fencing along the international border, Tripura government has recently urged the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) to issue suitable instructions to the concerned agencies entrusted to carry the fencing work such that all remaining works are expedited. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said, it needs to be emphasised that completion of India-Bangladesh Border (IBB) fence is a crucial part of overall security plan of state Tripura. MoHA have allotted a total of 851.091 km of fencing works to various construction agencies here in Tripura bordering with Bangladesh. As per the report of local BSF, as nodal agency, so far work has been completed only for about 715.754 km. Out of remaining 135.33 km, a large portion of 79.438 km falls on Eastern sector which is considered as highly vulnerable from security point of view. Sarkar said, “It appears that the concerned agency (NPCC) is unable to take up and continue works due to cost escalation for which they have submitted revised estimates to the Ministry of Home Affairs.” The state government has taken up the matter with MoHA for early resolution of the pending issues so that work is completed at the earliest. The Indian side of 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, revering, hilly jungle and with hardly many natural obstacles.

The area is heavily populated, and the cultivation is carried out till the last inch of the border.

The people of north-east India are closer to Bangladesh than to those in the Indian mainland-irrespective of their geography, history, culture and language.

The economic isolation of over 200 million people encourages illicit trade, fuels terrorism and increases tensions along the border.

Yet they could have been natural trading partners, exploiting the comparative advantages of their respective regions.

However, The Government has sanctioned fencing to the extent of 3326.14 km along the Indo-Bangladesh Border under two phases. The Phase-I project has been completed in the year 2000 under which 854.35 km fence were erected. Under Phase-II, 1973.572 km fence work has been completed.