The Meghalaya government has urged the Centre to consider outright acquisition of land along sections of the India-Bangladesh border where the mandatory 150-yard fencing norm would leave Indian villages outside the security barrier, effectively isolating them from the rest of the country. The proposal assumes significance amid continuing concerns over border infrastructure in sensitive frontier regions, with the state arguing that national security objectives must be balanced with the rights and livelihoods of border residents. The issue has gained prominence after villagers in several border settlements opposed fencing away from the zero line, warning that such an alignment would leave their homes trapped between the international boundary and the border fence.
Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong said the state had formally taken up the matter with the Ministry of Home Affairs, highlighting the unique geographical challenges faced by several villages, including in the Pynursla sector, where habitations lie well within the 150-yard stretch prescribed under international norms.
Talking to Media persons, Tynsong said, “Border fencing, again we have some challenges what happen is, there are portion of our Indian territories if we take 150 yard, with in that 150 yard the village is there within the 150 yard it may happen only 50-60 from the zero line pillar, there are the places in even in Pynursla areas when we had like that, so now from the government we have written a letter to the Ministry of Home Affair and I have Convened personally meeting with BSF and NBCC India and I have impress on them that we are not at all against the Fencing and we really need fencing, but the issue is, if we follow the international norms and guideline, 150 yard meaning the villages will be well outside the fencing, then what will happened if it is well outside the fencing, it is more and less in no man land.”
The Deputy CM said the state had proposed an alternative solution if the 150-yard norm could not be relaxed. “So now that is the concerned and we had flag off this issued to the Government of India, and we had told them also incase if 150 yard cannot be Compromise why not you acquired the entire areas outright purchase of the land so that the villagers or farmers can shift from there to other places, so that is the issue,” Tynsong said.
He said the state was awaiting a response from the Centre, “Not yet we are yet but in such places even from the state government we said please stop don’t go ahead with your fencing.”
According to the state government, construction of fencing has been halted in such locations until the issue is resolved, as it continues to press for a solution that strengthens border security without leaving Indian citizens outside the protective barrier.
