Centre intent on continuing with border fencing
MEA chalks out three proposals to settle border row
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 25 2013: Despite the strong demand raised by all Opposition political parties as well as various civil society organisations to put a stop to the ongoing fencing work on the Indo-Myanmar border, the Centre is intent on going ahead with same between Border Pillar 79 and 81, covering a distance of 10 kms at Moreh side.

Talking to The Sangai Express a reliable source said that the Centre is determined to complete the fencing work covering a distance of 10 kms.

Manipur shares 398 kms of border with Myanmar.

Following the decision of the Centre, the State Government is also reported to have submitted its report to the Central Government.

The decision of the Union Home Ministry to complete the fencing work over a 10 km distance is based on an agreement reached in March 1967, said the source.

Fencing at Moreh border area

Under the 1967 border agreement, the Government of India has already intimated to the Government of Myanmar to set up a joint working group to demarcate the areas, but till date there has been no response from the side of Myanmar.

The border pillars which have become a bone of contention between Manipur and Myanmar are 66, 76, 78, 89 and from border pillar 90 to 94 .

The border pillars erected inside Manipur are BP 32 to 48 in Churachandpur district, 49 to 89 in Chandel district and 90 to 120 in Ukhrul district.

An area of 35 kms lying adjacent to Kabaw valley, is yet to be demarcated, said the source and added that the undemarcated areas fall in Tuivang-Molcham area, Tamu-Moreh area and Choro village area in Ukhrul district.

To bring about a settlement at these undemarcated areas, a Cabinet sub-committee headed by the then Deputy Chief Minister Dr L Chandramani was set up 2000 .

However the said Cabinet sub-committee failed to file any report on the matter.

To settle the border row, the Ministry of External Affairs has submitted three proposals to the State Government, said the source.

As per the proposals of the Ministry of External Affairs, the position of the border pillars as it exist now should be acknowledged.

Accordingly the MEA had proposed that border pillars 90 and 91 be erected 792 metres inside the territory of India and give 3.70 metres of territory to Myanmar.

On the other hand, border pillar 77 located at Moreh be relocated 250 yards into the territory of Myanmar, as per an agreement reached in 1980 .

The second proposal mooted the idea that if Myanmar is not agreeable to the first proposal then a border pillar be erected at Choro Khunou well inside 775 metres in the territory of India and gift 1.4 squares metres to Myanmar.

Significantly the focus of the Centre is on the second proposal.

The third proposal moots the idea of ceding some areas to Myanmar at Tuivang on the condition that Myanmar cedes some of its territory at Moreh side.

Significantly in 2002, the State Home Department had intimated to the Myanmar Government to demarcate the areas under the traditional boundary system and had negated any move to adjust the boundary lines.