NEW DELHI: The problem of infiltration into India from Bangladesh has been a major issue. While the Border Security Force is often blamed for this problem, one also needs to look at the political apathy that has led to this situation.
Take for instance the Dhubri border in Assam. A proposal to install floodlights made in the year 2006 has still not seen the light of the day.
The Dhubri border has been a problematic one for several years now. Not only has it witnessed infiltrations galore, but is is one of the major points where cattle smuggling takes place.
The BSF has very often clashed with the cattle smugglers along this area and feel that there needs to be much more done in order to guard this border better.
In the year 2006 a proposal was made to install floodlights at the border areas of Dhubri in Assam. It was sanctioned the very same year by the Home Ministry. While work began in the year 2008, the project was never completed.
The work today remains largely unfinished and the BSF officials have a torrid time guarding this border especially in the night.
The Dhubri border area has been extremely problematic. A chunk of the infiltrations take place from this area and we have seen in the past as well as the recent present this problem going from bad to worse. The job of installing floodlights was the responsibility of the state government, but for some reason the solution has never been provided.
The BSF has now made another proposal to the Union Government to set up smart fences along the Indo-Bangladesh border.
They feel that these smart fences will help them guard the border better. It is too much for the number of BSF personnel to guard such a large border and hence technology must be adopted the BSF has said in the proposal.
The proposal is likely to get an immediate clearance from the central government.
