(a) whether the Government have a proposal for fencing of the Indo-Bangladesh border;
(b) if so, the steps taken so far in that regard and the funds allocated for the purpose, State-wise;
(c) the progress thereof, State-wise; and
(d) the time by which the fencing work is likely to be completed in each State?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI I.D. SWAMI)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTIN NO.4 FOR ANSWER ON 18th FEBRUARY, 2003 BY S/Sh. SONTOSH MOHAN DEV AND PARASURAM MAJHI, MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING FENCING ON INDO-BANGLADESH BORDER:
(a) to (d): Yes, Sir. The Government has sanctioned construction of 857.37 Kms. of fencing under Phase-I and 2429.5 Kms. under Phase-II along the Indo-Bangladesh Border. The Phase-wise details of expenditure incurred for execution of fencing work and physical progress made so far, State-wise are indicated below:
Phase-I
Name of the States Physical Expenditure incurred upto Dec., 2002
Fence sanctioned Progress made
West Bengal 507.00 Kms 507.00 Kms 8908.93 lacs Assam 152.31 Kms 149.294 Kms 1928.83 lacs Meghalaya 198.06 Kms 198.06 Kms 2839.00 lacs
Total: 857.37 Kms 854.354 Kms 13676.76 lacs
West Bengal 1021.00 Kms 155.42 Kms 4686.66 lacs (upto Jan. 2003) Assam 71.50 Kms - Nil Meghalaya 201.00 Kms 7.30 Kms 254.00 lacs Tripura 736.00 Kms 9.53 Kms 546.00 lacs Mizoram 400.00 Kms Nil Nil
Total: 2429.50 Kms 172.55 Kms. 5486.66 lacs
The entire fencing project is likely to be completed by 2007. Steps are being taken to further expedite its completion.