GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 4377

ANSWERED ON:04.08.2009

FENCING OF INDO BANGLADESH BORDER

RAJIV RANJAN (LALAN) SINGH

(a) whether fencing at several points along the Indo-Bangladesh border could not be carried out;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government has made any efforts to ensure that the entire stretch of the border is fenced;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Border Security Force has proposed measures for improving the quality of the border fencing; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and the time by which a decision in this regard is likely to be taken?

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRSbe pleased to state:- 

ANSWER

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

(SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN)

 (a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS

(a) to (f) of LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4377 RAISED BY SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH: SHRI ANANT KUMAR HEGDE: SHRI HANSRAJ G. AHIR: ON ‘FENCING OF INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER’

(a) to (d): Government has sanctioned fencing over 3436 km. along Indo-Bangladesh border in phased projects. Up to March 2009, a total of 2650 km. of fencing has been erected.There are many non-feasible and problematic stretches like riverine, low-lying and water-logged areas, hilly terrains, villages and population till International border (zero-line) and 150 yards problem with Bangladesh. These issues have to be resolved before fencing. There are institutional mechanisms to address these problems. Technical options are also being explored to cover the riverine and other difficult areas. All out efforts are being made to complete the sanctioned fencing works.

(e) and (f): The single row type of fencing erected under Phase - I project is being replaced by the composite multiple row type concertina fencing with the improved design and higher specifications. About 861 km of fencing has been sanctioned for replacement, out of which 367 km has already been replaced up to March 2009. The quality of construction is ensured by the mechanism of Third Party Inspection.