Question : CORRIDOR FACILITY FOR ENCLAVES

(a) the number of Indian Enclaves falling in Bangladesh territory and the number of Bangladesh Enclaves falling in Indian territory along with the population of each of such enclaves;

(b) whether the Government is aware that the people living in Indian Enclaves falling in Bangladesh territory are facing lots of problems and hardships due to lack of corridor facilities;

(c) if so, the steps taken by the Government to provide corridor facilities to all these Enclaves;

(d) whether the Government has taken up the matter with Bangladesh Government for transfer of these Enclaves; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the progress made so far, in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN)

(a) to (e) There are 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and 51 Bangladesh enclaves in India. As per a joint head count conducted from 14-17 July, 2011, there were 37,334 persons in India enclaves in Bangladesh and 14,215 persons in Bangladesh enclaves in India.

Government is aware of the hardships being faced by the people living in these enclaves. In this regard, the Government, during the State visit of the Prime Minister to Bangladesh in September, 2011, signed a “Protocol to the Agreement between the Government of India and the Government of Bangladesh concerning the Demarcation of the Land Boundary Between India and Bangladesh and Related Matters (LBA), 1974.” The 1974 Agreement and the 2011 Protocol paves the way for settlement of long outstanding land boundary issues between the two countries including the exchange of enclaves. These, inter-alia, provide for all enclaves to be exchanged expeditiously.

The provision of corridors has not been feasible as these enclaves are situated well inside the territory of either country, at a distance from the International Boundary and are geographically spread over vast areas.

The Competent Authority has approved the draft of a Constitution (Amendment) Bill for implementing the India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) 1974 and the Protocol to LBA signed in 2011. The Government plans to introduce this Bill in Parliament to facilitate resolution of long pending issues, including enclaves.