Indo-Myanmar border to be fenced

The Union Home Ministry has taken up various measures to accelerate the fencing works along the Indo-Myanmar border to check illegal drug trafficking in the region.

Recently a three-member Indian delegation, headed by Border Cell director M C Tiwari and Ministry of Home Affairs deputy secretary Balwant Singh, had visited the border areas to investigate the proposed border fencing in the region, official sources said in Aizawl on Monday.

According to the proposed plans, the first phase of the fencing work will be taken up near Moreh town in Manipur, along the porous Indo-Myanmar border. Besides, other parts of the international border would also

be fenced.

Sources said the Survey of India with its Myanmar counterpart will carry out the survey and demarcation works for the fencing.

A consultative meeting on border fencing was held recently. It was attended by the additional chief secretary (Border Management) of the Union Home Ministry R R Shirohi, Home Affairs director B K Pathak, Asom Rifles representatives and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) officials.

The Planning Commission has also emphasised the need for construction of a parallel road along the entire length of Indo-Myanmar border. Only 52 km out of the 1,643 km stretch of international border with Myanmar is manned by Indian security forces.