Smart fencing of 300 km along Myanmar border to begin soon
ethnic clashes and illegal migration of Chin-Kuki nationals from Myanmar, the Centre is set to issue orders for smart fencing for an additional 300 kilometres out of the 1,643 km of India-Myanmar border, running along Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, said a senior government official. The fencing of the remaining length of the border is likely to be completed in the next four and half years, the official said.
The development comes after the initial pilot project of 10 km was completed last year and work for another 80 km was awarded, taking the total smart fencing to 390 km.
The porous border along the India-Myanmar has witnessed large-scale smuggling of goods, drugs, arms and ammunition. Following the clashes in Manipur in May 2023, the Centre embarked on a project to examine ways to fence the border which has been completed by multiple agencies.
Once the smart fencing is completed, the free movement regime (FMR) along the India-Myanmar border will be discontinued and those trying to come or go on either side will have to obtain visas from the respective countries, said people familiar with the matter.
Under FMR, people belonging to the hill tribes, whether they are citizens of India or Myanmar and are resident of any area within 16 km on either side of the India-Myanmar border, can cross the border on production of a border pass, which is issued by the competent authority with a one-year validity.
«The lack of awareness among locals, ambiguity and uncertainty on FMR has posed major problems, which has further led to fear among border residents that their traditional rights will be unfairly curtailed or they will not be able to communicate with their relatives across the border or access their
