The Indian government is set to allocate approximately $3.7 billion to construct a fence along the 1,610-km border with Myanmar, as per a recent media report. The initiative aims to curb smuggling and illegal activities, with a focus on enhancing national security.
Earlier this year, citing concerns for national security, the central government announced its intention to fence the border and discontinue the visa-free movement policy with Myanmar for border residents. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration emphasized the necessity of securing the porous border to preserve the demographic balance in the northeastern region. A government committee recently approved the budget for the fencing project, which awaits final clearance from the Union cabinet.
The influx of civilians and troops from Myanmar into India following the military coup in 2021 has raised apprehensions of communal tensions within the Indian government. Some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have pointed to the porous border with Myanmar as a contributing factor to the unrest in Manipur.
The strife in Manipur, characterized by clashes between two ethnic groups, one of which has ties to Myanmar's Chin tribe, has persisted for almost a year. In addition to the border fence, the government committee has proposed the construction of parallel roads along the border and feeder roads spanning 1,700 km to connect military installations.
According to the report, the fence and accompanying road infrastructure are estimated to cost approximately Rs.125 million per kilometer. This expense exceeds the Rs.55 million per kilometer incurred for the border fence erected along the Bangladesh border in 2020. The disparity in cost is attributed to the challenging terrain of the Myanmar border and the incorporation of advanced technology to deter intrusion and ensure longevity.
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