The 33rd meeting of the High Level Empowered Committee (HLEC) for the Indo-Bangladesh Border Roads and Fence Project was held here today under the hairmanship of Shri B.P. Singh, Union Home Secretary, Lt. Gen R.J. Mordecai, Director Gen. Border Roads, Shri E.N. Rammohan, Director General BSF, Shri B.S. Duggal, Director General, Works, CPWD, Shri H.W.T. Syiem, Chief Secretary, Meghalaya, Shri S.N. Roy, Principal Secretary, West Bengal, Resident Commissioners of Assam, Tripura and Mizoram and senior officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Finance attended the meeting.

The Indo-Bangladesh Border extends to a total length of 4095 kms. Of this West Bengal has a border length of 2216 kms, Tripura 856 kms., Meghalaya 443 kms., Mizoram 318 kms. and Assam 262 kms. As the entire Indo-bangladesh border has been prone to large scale illegal immigration/infiltration from Baqngladesh, the Government of India sanctioned the Indo-Bangladesh Border Roads & Fence project in 1986 at a cost of Rs.371.74 crores with a view to preventing infiltration by Bangladesh nationals. The cost of the project was subsequently revised to Rs.831.17 crores in 1992.

The Project envisages construction of roads and fences along the sensitive stretches of the Indo-Bangladesh border in the States of Assam, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura. The works were entrusted to the C.P.W.D. in West Bengal, Assam P.W.D. in Assam and the Border Roads Organisation in Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. The project contents include construction 2784 kms. of road, 23.8 kms. of bridge and 896 kms. of fence along the Indo-Bangladesh Border in the above States. As on September 30, 1998, 2116 kms. of road, 16.5 kms. of bridge and 789 kms. of fence have been completed at a cost of Rs.754.61 crores. An amount of Rs.72 crores have been provided for the project in the budget for 1998-99 and Rs.95 crores recommended for the year 1999-2000. Sanctioned works in Megahalaya have been completed and handed over to the CPWD for maintenance. However, progress of works was slow in Tripura due to law and order problems. The High Level Empowered Committee expressed their concern at the slow progress of the works in West Bengal mainly due to delay in land acquisition by the State Government, State government representatives were requested to expedite and complete land acquisition by 31.3.99 so that the project could be completed by March 2001.

The High Level Empowered Committee reviewed the progress of Indo-Bangladesh Border Roads & Fence Project and took the following major decisions:-

The revised cost estimate of the project at Rs.1045.75 crores was approved. It was decided that the project should be completed by March, 2001. The proposals for additional border roads/fencing to cover the entire remaining border of West Bengal of with Bangladesh was approved. It was also decided that stretches where fencing was not technically feasible should be floodlighted. The proposals for additional items i.e. construction of 71.5 length of road and an equal length of fencing in Assam, 191 Kms. of road and 185 Kms. of fence in Meghalaya, 279 Kms. of road and 856 Kms. of fencing covering the entire border in Tripura and 165 Kms. of road and 318 Kms. of fencing in Mizoram were also approved, subject to approval by the cabinet. It was also decided that the stretches of border roads having heavy traffic would be further strengthened so that the roads could be used for commercial traffic.

INDIA AND BANGLADESH TO INCREASE
COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION

The Bangladesh Foreign Minister Shri Abdul Samad Azad met Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, Minister for Human Resources Development and Science & Technology for India and discussed matters relating to increased cooperation in the field of education, culture and science and technology.

Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi said that the relations between India and Bangladesh have always been cordial and we would like to further improve the relations. The HRD Minister said India is happy to be able to assist a large number of students from Bangladesh who study in our Universities. He offered to help Bangladesh in strengthening their education system by sending teachers there and by helping in setting up of technical institutions. The Bangladesh foreign Minister, Shri Abdul Samad Azad hoped for increased cooperation in the field of education.