All party meet opts for border survey : CM gives it back to BJP, says it is ignorant : 09th nov13 ~ E-Pao! Headlines

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All party meet opts for border survey : CM gives it back to BJP, says it is ignorant
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 08, 2013: An all political party meeting held today at the Chief Minister's Secretariat resolved to urge the Government of India to suspend the ongoing border fencing work and conduct a joint border survey by the Survey of India, Survey of Myanmar and State Government officials.

The meeting held this afternoon was attended by representatives of all political parties having their offices in the State except BJP.

Addressing a press meet after the meeting, Chief Minister O Ibobi dismissed the allegations levelled by BJP against the Government regarding the border fencing work as baseless.

Maintaining that BJP has no thorough knowledge of the border fencing work, Ibobi clarified that the State Government proposed the Government of India to construct a fence along the border with Myanmar in order to check illegal cross border movement and arms smuggling.

In West Bengal and Tripura, construction of fence along international boundaries is going on.

Border fencing work has been completed by almost 90 per cent in Tripura.

The question of border fencing is not within the purview of the State Government.

The matter lies with the Government of India and the Government of Myanmar.

Nonetheless, the State Government would act responsibly on all such sensitive issues.

The State Government has its own plan to exert maximum pressure on the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs so that the border row is settled amicably.

During the joint meeting held today, representatives of different political parties shared their views on the matter and arrived at certain resolutions unanimously.

There is no question of depositing any amount of money with the State Government in connection with the border fencing, Ibobi stated.

Length of the first phase of border fencing is 10 Kms but the whole project of border fencing has nothing to do with the State Government.

Admitting that the border fence affects Yangoupokpi-Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary for it starts at Yangoupokpi and ends at Lokchao, the Chief Minister stated as chairman of the State Wildlife Sanctuary Board sent a recommendation in accordance to the Forest Conservation Act 1972. Due approval of the recommendation should be obtained after forwarding it to the Forest and Environment Ministry, Government of India and then, to the Supreme Court.

Conservation work should be executed by the Forest and Environment Ministry with due consent of the Supreme Court.

On being enquired with the Forest and Environment, it has been learnt that Rs 2.6 crore has been released, Ibobi told media persons.

Together with Dr I Ibohalbi of Trinamool Congress, Dr M Nara of CPI, Morung Makunga of NPF and representatives of other political parties, a common memorandum has been drafted.

The same memorandum would be submitted to the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister and the External Affairs Ministry very soon, Ibobi added.

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