West Bengal Mamata Banerjee (File Photo)
After a delay of more than two years, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has finally agreed to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's request to acquire 300 acres of land in the state and give it to the Centre for construction of barbed wire fencing along the India-Bangladesh border, it was announced on Friday.
The Centre had requested the state government to provide land to strengthen border grid and stop infiltration of Bagladeshi and Rohingya people, as well as prevent smuggling along the international border.
The latest move, officials said, came after Singh wrote to Banerjee and requested her to hasten the process by state government officials. India shares a 4,096-km border with Bangladesh, 2,216 km of it in West Bengal.
The Home Minister had sent similar letters to Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tripura and Bihar, which helped resolve pending issues related to acquisition of land in these states, the official added.
On Friday, Singh reviewed the progress of various projects being undertaken along the international border with China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar.
He was informed during the meeting that…
