By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, DEC 14: Urging the central government on the need to “revisit” the approach towards border management, Meghalaya government on Wednesday suggested inclusion of the state police as an additional layer for manning the 443km Indo-Bangla border.
Setting up of more border haats and others to promote trade and commerce with Bangladesh in a much higher scale were also underscored by the chief minister Mukul Sangma in a meeting with the Committee to Strengthen Border Protection, Government of India, National Council of Secretarial.
Headed by the former home secretary Madhukar Gupta as chairman, the committee during its visit to the state also held separate meeting with the senior officials of the state government.
Addressing journalists, chief minister Mukul Sangma, who expressed happiness that the meeting was held in the state and said, “We have proposed layering of the border guards as manning of the border just by the BSF is not enough and but another layer which should by the state police should be created.”
“There is a need for integration of technology to add to the overall conventional manning of the border,” Sangma added.
He also said that the discussion with the committee also include intensification of patrolling and upgradation of infrastructures along the Indo-Bangla border for consideration of the Government of India (GOI).
Informing number of measures was suggested for placing before the Centre, Sangma said, “These measures if implemented on a timeline basis can be a game-changer.”
One of the measures suggested was establishment of more border haats and Sangma said the state government has put it before the GOI ton the need to examine and see whether there can be some more border haats along the Indo-Bangla border.
“Total 24 such locations have been identified involving the authorities from both sides of the border. These 24 includes the two which are operational and the rest 18 which are required to be considered for further sanction,” Sangma informed.
Stating that the proposal was based on the initial experience, he said that the positive experience gathered after operationalization of the two border haats was not only from economic view point but also from security perspective.
“Through border haats, we do not limit ourselves to economic activities but also the security agencies that are tasked with the responsibilities of gathering information, they can also utilize this instrument for much more inputs collection from across the border,” he stated.
When asked, Sangma said there are some bilateral protocol signed for providing whole parameters (do’s and don’ts) pertaining to running of these border haats.
“The validity of that agreement earlier signed has lapsed and has been renewed recently so we will proceed further. Because of that we have to delay finalization of actual locations where the infrastructures for those new border haats. However now that has been revived,” he said.
Also urging the Centre for promoting trade and commerce in a much higher scale, the chief minister said, “This long border can be a transit for both important export and import of raw materials, semi-finish and finish products which will help us creating that kind of eco-system for bigger investment to take place.”
He said this will create positive environment which is crucial for this region to generate the momentum growth and prosperity as well as wellbeing and prosperity of the people are always important for creating a secure environment.
“Economic stress can be exploited by the enemies of the nation to utilize them as the agents of the enemies,” Sangma warned as he added the discussion was stressed upon as to how to understand the overall growth and prosperity of the region as a crucial means to strengthen the region in as far as security is concerned.
Meanwhile, the chief minister also emphasized how the bilateral relationship with Bangladesh can be looked at from both national security perspective and economic perspective through effective and sustainable mechanism.
+ There are no comments
Add yours