India accelerates Myanmar border fencing, BRO to complete project in 10 years

India has intensified efforts to secure its 1,643-km porous border with Myanmar despite growing opposition from communities in Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh. Amid rising concerns over security and illegal activities along the border, the government is pushing forward with an ambitious fencing project, with plans to complete it over the next ten years.

According to a report by The Times of India (TOI), the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) will undertake the fencing project in phases, with an estimated cost of around Rs 20,000 crore for the fence itself and another Rs 11,000 crore for the construction of more than 60 border roads.

“As per the survey conducted by government agencies, over 1,500-km of fencing – which includes 300-km of electric fencing – is required for effective management of the India-Myanmar border as well as ensuring security and stability of India’s north-east region,” sources from the Indian Army told TOI.

The move comes amidst ongoing violence in Manipur, where ethnic clashes between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities have left over 250 people dead since May of the previous year.

While more than 60,000 people remain displaced, security forces have recovered less than half of the 6,000 weapons looted in the conflict. The volatile situation in Myanmar, fueled by the military coup in February 2021, has further exacerbated the crisis. More than 31,000 refugees from Myanmar have sought refuge in India over the past year.

The situation at the border is further complicated by an increase in illegal activities, such as smuggling, human trafficking, and the movement of armed infiltrators. Over the last six months, drugs worth Rs 1,125 crore have been seized along the border.

However, the fencing project has faced significant opposition from communities in border areas. In Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh, some groups are protesting the fencing as well as the scrapping of the ‘Free Movement Regime,’ which allowed people living along the border to move 16 km into each other’s territory without visas. Apex Kuki bodies, in particular, have voiced concerns that these measures threaten to infringe upon the cultural, traditional, and historical rights of indigenous communities.

Experts have also criticized the project, calling it a costly initiative that could disrupt the livelihoods and connections of people with familial ties across the border. However, officials from the defence and security establishment have assured that the fencing will not sever cultural or familial bonds.

“The fencing is not intended to restrict the movement of civilians,” an official source said. “A network of gates with biometric systems along the fence is being planned to allow cross-border movement while ensuring security. The locations of these entry and exit points will be decided through collaborative consultations with local residents.”

The primary aim of the fence is to curb the movement of armed groups, as well as to address smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal immigration, officials emphasized.

The success of a 10-km section of the fence completed in Moreh, Manipur, has shown promising results in improving both security and trade management. “The fencing will also regulate and boost legitimate trade, ensuring economic benefits for the local communities while eliminating the adverse impact of illegal trade,” the source added.

MT