Erosion posing security threat along border

From The Assam TribuneR Dutta Choudhury
 GUWAHATI, July 29 – For years, flood and erosion caused miseries to thousands of people of Assam and now the problems posed a threat to the security of the nation as the border roads and fencing in some parts are under severe threat. If immediate steps are not taken, there is every possibility of some portions of the international border becoming vulnerable in the days to come.
Border Security Force (BSF) sources told The Assam Tribune that severe erosion and floods seriously affected border management and if immediate steps are not taken to deal at least with erosion, there is every possibility of border roads and fencing eroding away in parts of Dhubri district.
Sources revealed that due to high floods and erosion, the personnel of the border guarding force are forced to shift some of their border outposts (BOPs) located in the vulnerable stretches of the international border with Bangladesh. Sources said that already the BOPs at Mahamaya Char, Mantrichar, Masalabari, Haldiaganj, Sisumara etc in Dhubri sector have been shifted due to high floods and erosion and the BOPs are now operating from boats. This definitely affected the functioning of the personnel of the border guarding force in maintaining a close vigil along the international border.
Sources said that severe erosion has posed a serious threat to the border roads and fencing, particularly in parts of Mankachar are and if immediate steps are not taken to deal with the problem, there is every possibility of a portion of fencing and border road getting eroded. If the fencing and road are washed away , it will adversely affect bordermanagement as the area will become totally open. The entire stretch of the internationalborder is still not fenced and the BSF is forced to deploy additional personnel in the areas, which are still not fenced. If a portion of the fencing is washed away, this will further complicate the situation as extra precaution will have to be taken to keep watch on that area, sources pointed out.
The erosion of the border roads will also restrict the movement of the troops and this, in turn, will make the border more vulnerable. The people living in the international border areas also use the border roads and they will also face serious problems if the road is eroded. The BSF has already taken up the issue with the Government on several occasions and the force is hoping that the Government would take serious note of the situation and take immediate steps to check erosion by the river Brahmaputra. “Huge amounts of money was spent on construction of the border roads and fencing and if those cannot be protected, it will result in colossal waste of national exchequer”, sources pointed out.
Sources said that shifting of the BOPs has affected patrolling. Though regular river patrolling is being carried out, it is difficult to keep a close watch on the entire stretch of the riverine border when the Brahmaputra river is in full spate. It is also learnt that the project to bring in floating BOPs to guard the riverine international border has been abandoned as of now as the water level of the Brahmaputra comes down during the dry season.