Border fencing has improved in November: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI - Presenting his ministry’s monthly report for November, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday said that the government has taken steps to improve border fencing with neighbouring countries.

He said that on the India-Bangladesh Border, 17 kilometers of fencing and 20 kilometers of road works had been completed in November under phase II of the project.

He also revealed that 25 kilometers of fencing was replaced in November under phase III of the project.

Poles for floodlighting were erected along 60 kilometers and cables were laid on 15 kilometers stretch in November.

Chidambaram said that on the India-China Border, Construction of 21 roads totaling 653.40 kilometers is in progress. He added that 19.43 kilometers of formation works and 0.70 kilomters of surfacing works were completed in November.

Commenting on coastal security, he said ten boats were delivered in November, and so far, the Indian Coast Guard has 169 boats at its disposal as against a delivery target of 192 boats.

He said Home Ministry would continue to pressure the two ship yards to deliver the remaining boats by January, 2011.

On the issue of Border Area Development Programme (BADP), he said that the government has so far released Rs.514.66 crore, or 81.04 percent of the total allocation of Rs.635 crore to 17 states. (ANI)