Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 10:
Inspite of the protest by the Military Junta of Myanmar to the move being made for erecting fencing inside Manipur sector of the Indo-Myanmar border at Moreh, the Government of India has taken a strong stand on carrying out the border fencing regardless of the objection insisting upon the State Government that the protest should have been lodged through proper diplomatic channel.
Acting on the instruction given by Union Home Secretary Madhuker Gupta during his last visit to the State, the State Government had earlier started taking up necessary measures for border fencing covering over a distance of 10 kms inside the Indian territory at Moreh.
However, the ADC of Myanmar deputed at Tamu forwarded a protest note raising objection to any move on border fencing through his official counterpart at Moreh.
Subsequently, all related works to the border fencing has been remaining stalled.
A reliable source disclosed to The Sangai Express that on forwarding the protest note send to the ADC Moreh by the Myanmarese official posted at Tamu to the Union Home Ministry.
However, the Ministry made it clear to the State Government that the border fencing should be carried on inside the territory of India regardless of the protest by Myanmarese authority.
In the letter sent to the State Government in this regard in early part of this month, the Union Home Ministry made it clear that the protest by Myanmar should be lodged through proper diplomatic channel.
With the Government of India insisting upon carrying on with the work of border fencing from Border Pillar no.79 to 81 leaving 10 metres from the International boundary on the India's side, the State Government has written to the 25 BRTF for doing the needful, the source disclosed.
As the proposed border fencing has to pass through the Yangoupokpi Lokchao Wild Life Sanctuary, BRTF has also been entrusted for getting the required forest clearance even as the Revenue and Forest Departments, Survey of India and BRTF have been asked to utilise the Assam Rifles for the security requirement at the time of demarcation of the zero point of the International border.
Although the Forest Department has already conducted a survey of the forest area that need to be cleared for the border fencing, it has yet to submit its report to the Government.
It may be recalled here that the required recce survey trace cutting which was scheduled to begin from November 16 last year had been stopped after the Myanmarese authority raised objection to the proposed border fencing.
The Myanmarese authority had even threatened that the Government of India should bear with the responsibility of any untoward incident if the border fencing is carried out in defiance of the objection raised.
The task of border fencing has been stalled the officials at Yangon did not responded to the proposal of the Myanmarese officials at Tamu for a joint survey of the two countries, the source explained.