Security staff stands a guard near the border of India-Bangladesh in the Malda district in West Bengal. | Photo Credit: PTI
Obtaining a land for the establishment of a fencing along the boundary of the West Bengal-Bangladesh is about 229 km at different stages of implementation, while the state government has to start this process for 148 km. Details of land obtaining along the border of the West Bengal-Bangladesh were submitted in Rajya Sabha by the Ministry of the Interior of the Union (MHA) in response to the question on Wednesday.
MHA informed the parliament that the total length of the Indo-Bangladesh border in West Bengal is 2,226.7 km, of which the fence was covered by 1,647,696 km.
“Between the equilibrium section 569,004 km, which is still covered with a fence and other boundary infrastructure work, 112.780 km is unintegrated and 456.224 km is feasible,” said the answer.
The domestic ministry pointed out that from 456.224 km feasible length of the international border in West Bengal, land for 77.935 km, was handed over to the executing agency.
“To expand the balance of 378.289 km, land acquisition must be started for 148.971 km by the state government. The remaining land for 229.318 km is at different stages of land acquisition.”
Early payments for the acquisition of land according to standards have been released and the payment has already been made in 181.635 km, but the land was handed over by the state, MHA said.
On the steps to accelerate the land acquisition, MHA said that regular meetings and reviews with the state government and visits to the state to review and coordinate the problems, if existed, were carried out.
Fencing along the porous western Bengal-Bangladeshi border assumes importance because the debate on alleged illegal infiltration from Bangladesh has been raging for some time. Over the past few months, thousands of migrating workers from West Bengal have been detained in several countries for suspicion of Bangladesh nationals. Criminal gangs facilitating infiltration were active along both sides of the unofficial boundary.
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Published – August 20, 2025 23:16
