Govt to help those living within India beyond Bangladesh fence

NEW DELHI: Government is considering a proposal to provide housing facilities to families living within the Indian territory but beyond the fencing on the Indo-Bangladesh border.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil stated this in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday while replying to questions on the progress in fencing along the Indo-Bangla border and the status of families living beyond the fence.

According to government figures, around 316 villages having a population of over 97,000 are located within Indian territory but outside the fencing in five states along the largely porous border.

The normal developmental schemes of the Government and the special 'Border Area Development Programme' cover around 16,200 such families living outside the fence.

Patil said fencing is yet to be completed in 835 km of the total 3,407 km proposed stretch along the Indo-Bangla border.

"It is true that in some places it has not been possible to erect the fence. Land has to be acquired. Bangladesh also objects to the steps taken by India in erecting the fense at certain places," he said.

To a question, he said steps have already been taken to increase the strength of BSF personnel guarding the border and new battalions are being raised for the purpose to check infiltration from Bangladesh.

He said the Government was also considering the option of keeping the gates in the fence open from 4 am till 8 pm to help movement of people living or having agricultural land outside the fence.