Author: Staff Reporter
Publication: The Assam Tribune
Date: October 28, 2007
URL: http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=oct2807/at04
The Opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) today alleged that the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) Ltd had handed over a huge stretch of the country's international border area land to Bangladesh in Karimganj and Dhubri sectors. The NBCC has been implementing the border road-cum-fencing projects along the Indo-Bangla border in the two sectors.
Addressing a press conference here, AGP general secretaries Birendra Prasad Baishya, Hitendra Nath Goswami and Dilip Kumar Saikia urged the Prime Minister to visit the Indo-Bangla border areas in the State immediately to take stock of the progress of border fencing work.
The AGP leaders have written to the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha LK Advani demanding a high-level enquiry into the matter. Pending it, the NBCC should keep its work on hold, they said.
They told newspersons that the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of Dhubri and Karimganj had written to the State Government and Union Home Ministry in January (Memo: DRA-27/2007/17 dt Januray 18 /07) and March (Memo: KRA-5/2005/269 dt March 13/07) last respectively, alleging NBCC's indiscretion in executing the border road-cum-fencing projects.
In Dhubri sector, 16 bighas of patta land and some khas area land were not taken into consideration by the NBCC while making the alignment for the fencing. The drawing prepared by the Corporation for the purpose has also not shown the sharp curve of the boundary at Thambarvita village and Mantrirchar 'involving a pointed end of about 116 metre' between the Pillars 7-S/1039 and 6-S/1039, said the Dhubri DC in his above letter.
The drawing has shown the boundary between these two pillars 'as straight', said the Dhubri DC in his letter to the Commissioner and Secretary, Border Areas of the State on the construction of border road and fencing on a 9.3 km stretch between Baramanpara and Mahamaya Char. He has also complained that the '(border) road is constructed at a distance of 220 metres to 230 metres from the 'O' line of the International Border with Bangladesh between Pillar No 7-S/1039 to 6-S/1039.'
Again, at village Fulkakata Point-I, between Pillar No 11-S/1039 and 12-S/1039, the distance of 150 metre from the 'O" line has not been maintained, as reported. The NBCC Ltd did not consult the district administration while preparing the drawing and conducting the survey, said the Dhubri DC in his letter.
Moreover, he alleged that the NBCC Ltd had started construction without taking over formal possession of the land from the district administration.
Likewise, Karimganj DC pleaded in his letter to the Union Home Ministry for instruction to stop construction works of Phase-III border fencing alleging that M/S SRK Grover & Co engaged by the NBCC for executing the border road-cum-fencing work between Lafasail and Karkhanaputni, had not taken care for maintaining proper distance from the zero line.
"The existing Border Road-cum-fencing from Pillar No 1369/6-S to 1370/6-S (Mouza-Hijim Angura Kitte Madanpur Cha Bagan) was constructed at varying distances like about 900 Mtrs, 700 Mtrs, 500 Mtrs and 300 Mtrs from the zero line of the International Boundary…" he said.
He also alleged that from Pillar No 1370/3-S to Pillar No 1372 MP (Mouza- Hijim Angura Kitte Madanpur Cha Bagan), fencing was done at about 400 metres to 1000 metres away from the zero line of the International Boundary. The land between the zero line to IBB Road-cum-fencing of this stretch is under possession of the Pallatal Cha Bagan of Bangladesh.
In Mouza Dewtoli, the existing fencing is about 850 metres away from the zero line, said the Karimganj DC in his letter.
In Phase-III works, there is no provision for fresh land acquisition. Due to this decision of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, 'very valuable Indian land is falling outside the fencing with widths varying from 137 metres to even 900 metres. This has caused a widespread resentment amongst the people' of the bordering areas, said the Karimganj DC.
He also pleaded for instructions to stop the Phase-III of the border fencing works so as to maintain a distance of 137 metres from the zero line for the new fencing by making provision for land acquisition.