Shillong: The Meghalaya government wants the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to buy private land located within 150 yards of the Indo-Bangladesh border. Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong announced the plan on July 29 to clear the way for continuous security fencing. Bilateral agreements currently block construction in this buffer zone, forcing villages and farms to sit outside the barrier.
Tynsong stated that the existing policy creates severe hardships for local communities. The government aims to relocate these displaced families once the state acquires the property. Tynsong explained: "The state has requested the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to consider purchasing land in this mandatory buffer zone." This approach would stop the gaps that plague border management.
Officials also renewed calls to move fencing closer to the zero line in specific areas. Tightening border control remains the priority. The state shares a 443-km border with Bangladesh, a stretch frequently hit by smuggling and infiltration. Completing the project serves both the residents and national security interests.
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