Defending against Beijing: Centre to set up 42 ITBP border outposts

GUWAHATI: The Centre will set up 42 additional ITBP border outposts (BOP) for strengthening security along the international borders of the north east states along China, said Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju today.

"We have approved the setting up of 37 additional BOPs in Arunachal Pradesh and five in Sikkim. Presently, the BOPs are positioned at a distance of 30 to 40 km from each other. It is difficult for the 40 or so people manning each BOP to monitor the distance between the two posts," he told newsmen here.

The additional BOPs besides strengthening border security will facilitate the people living in those areas, he said, adding the Centre was planning to provide rice, dal and other food items to help them.

"We want to match the border roads with the neighbouring countries. Their roads are very good. Improving the border roads will also facilitate the local people there," Rijiju, who was speaking about the achievements of the year-old Narendra Modi government, said.

The Centre, he said, would also set up integrated check posts (ICP) in all border areas of the northeast states and many spots have already been identified for the purpose.

"The ICPs would be at Moreh in Manipur, Dawki in Meghalaya, Kaladan and Kawarpuchia in Mizoram, Agartala in Tripura, Pangsupass in Arunachal Pradesh and may be at Dhubri and Karimganj in Assam," the central minister said.

This would give a boost to the Prime Minister's 'Act East policy', in which the north east region is an integral policy.

The ICPs to be full fledged trading points will facilitate border trade and people from across the border can come there legally, besides establishing relations with the neighbouring countries, Rijiju said.

"Our government has taken expedient steps for setting up the ICPs and establish contact with the neighbouring countries as they have to jointly agree for the posts," he added.

In the smaller bordering areas, haats (small centres) would be set up to facilitate trade across the border, Rijiju said.

The Cabinet Committee on Security in 2006 had approved the setting up of ICPs on entry/exit points along India's international land border as a sanitised zone that has adequate passenger and freight processing facilities.

Stating that there exists a "difficult law and order situation" in the north east region barring Sikkim, the central minister said, "We, therefore, have a programme to reimburse the security issues-related expenditure and so far released Rs 261 crore."

For improving the communication infrastruction and IT sector, Rs 5,000 crore has been earmarked, he added.

As part of Modi government's attention on the region, Rijuju said besides national highways, the Centre will also fund important state roads. "The state governments have only to provide the land for them," he said.

For the benefit of the local north east contractors and to take care of the employment problem here, he said all road construction packages will be made small to be below Rs 50 crore.

A ten per cent mobilisation fund for buying equipment and labour mobilisation would be given, he said, adding a workshop will be held here next month to train qualified local youths.