Chidambaram on visit to Tripura, Mizoram

Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI, May 16 – Union Home Minister P Chidambaram will unveil the foundation stone for the construction of an Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Agartala tomorrow. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and other dignitaries are attending the function.
The ICPs are envisaged to overcome the infrastructural bottlenecks at the various entry and exit points on the land borders of the country. They are expected to provide facilities for the effective and efficient discharge of functions such as security, immigration, customs and quarantine, while also providing support facilities for smooth cross-border movement of persons, goods and transport.

Setting up of ICPs along India’s internal border is a major initiative, with an initial outlay of Rs 635 crore during the 11th Five Year Plan. The estimated cost of Agartala ICP Project is Rs 73.50 crore. Rs 42.17 crore has been approved for the civil construction of the ICP. The schedule for the completion of the project is around 14 months. The project is likely to be completed by July, 2012.

The Department of Border Management has finalised the Detailed Project Reports for all the 13 ICPs to be initially set up on the borders between India and Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Myanmar.

Official sources said Government of Bangladesh has also been apprised to create similar infrastructure and facilities to bring about proper synergy.

Agartala Correspondent adds: Chidambarm is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the ICP at Akhaura, near Indo-Bangla border. Industries Minister Jitendra Chowdhury will also be present in the programme.

After laying the foundation stone of the ICP, Chidambaram will go to the Raj Bhavan where he will have a meeting with Chief Minister, Chief Secretary and DGP.

Besides reviewing the overall law and order situation, progress of erection of barbed wire fencing, problems related to fence victims and repatriation of Reang refugee will come up for discussion in the meeting.

Though 3341 Reang refugees sheltered in North Tripura’s Kanchanpur subdivision have returned to their home – Mizoram since November last year, the State Government wants Mizoram Government to take back all the refugees who are still living in six refugee camps.

Chidambaram will leave Agartala for Aizwal on May 18. Sources said, the Union Minister will hold a meeting with Mizoram Chief Minister to oversee the resettlement of repatriated Reang refugees.

City »