DHAKA: Guarding of the international border with Bangladesh is likely to improve considerably from next year as the process of installation of floodlight along the land border is going on. The process is likely to be completed by 2014.

Sources in the Border Security Force (BSF) told The Assam Tribune that the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) is implementing the floodlight project and the process of erecting poles is almost complete in the Dhubri sector of the border.

Sources said in that sector, poles have been erected in almost all portions except for a nine-kilometre stretch, where the work is currently going on.

The CPWD is expected to complete the process of putting up the floodlight and laying power lines to the borders by April next year and then, it would be up to the State Government to ensure a dedicated power supply for proper use of the floodlights as it would not be possible to use the floodlights by using only generators.

The issue was taken up by the BSF with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi during his recent visit to the international border. Gogoi assured that the State Government would do the needful in this regard. The progress of the installation of floodlight along the land border with Bangladesh is also being monitored by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

Sources said that though the BSF personnel posted along the border have been provided with devices like night vision binoculars, the installation of floodlights would considerably improve border management. Floodlights along the international border with Pakistan in Punjab were installed long back and there were demands by various organizations that floodlights should also be installed along the border with Bangladesh to improve vigil along the border.

Source: assamtribune.com
BDST: 0948 HRS, OCT 13, 2013
RS/BSK