Shillong: Meghalaya wants the central government to acquire all land within 150 yards of the India-Bangladesh border. Local officials say this is the only way to protect villages and farmers from being left outside the fence. Current rules mandate a 150-yard buffer for border security, but this policy threatens to isolate citizens.
Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Prestone Tynsong stated that enforcing the 150-yard rule would put entire villages on the wrong side of the barrier. He pointed to Pynursla as an example where fences sit 50 to 60 meters from border pillars. Tynsong argued that if the government sticks to the standard, everyone living there will be trapped between nations.
The state government is not against fencing the border. Tynsong made this clear: "If the 150-yard rule is followed, all villages along the border will be outside the fence, and the people will be caught between the two countries."
Meghalaya officials have already written to the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding these concerns. Tynsong ordered the Border Security Force and the North Eastern Council to start immediate talks. The state demands that India buy the land to ensure local farmers stay safely inside national territory.
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