New Delhi: Assam Governor J B Patnaik today suggested patrolling of the porous India-Bangladesh border by special riverine vehicles to check illegal immigration.
He said he has already sent a proposal to the Home Ministry for procuring the `Electronic Patrolling Bridge` to guard riverine areas along the international border and seal it completely.
"About 40 km riverine border could be covered by the Electronic Patrolling Bridge. It could solve the problem of illegal immigration from across the border," he told a press conference here.
Patnaik expressed serious concern over the growing terrorist activities of Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) and Naxalites in upper Assam.
"KLO is rising, they have been trained at Chittagong in Bangladesh most surreptitiously and possibly by ISI of Pakistan," he said.
"Naxalism was growing in Sadiya (a small town in Tinsukia district of Assam). It started only from 2005 with aid and training from cadres belonging to Chhattisgarh and Odisha. It is a serious problem," he said.
Patnaik acknowledged the help rendered by Bangladesh in handing over ULFA and NDFB leaders to India and envisaged that the issues pertaining to these organisations will be solved soon.
"(NDFB chief) Ranjan Daimary is very much willing to come to the mainstream now. Then the Bodo problem is almost over," he said.
Taking note of the serious problem faced by the flood prone areas, of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Majuli island, he said he would request the Centre to build bridges over the Brahmaputra to ensure connectivity during the floods, which otherwise remains cut-off from rest of the state.
"New Road from Sivasagar to Lakhimpur and to Majuli at estimated cost of Rs 1000 crore is proposed. Three to four bridges over the Brahmaputra should be built over there as the river is quite narrow there," he said.
"The Centre should increase the annual grant for repair of roads, considering the roads in Assam are washed away due to heavy rains every year," he said.
Patnaik pitched for "capacity building and skill developments for the Panchayat officials" in the state, as they take care of many important works including the flagship programme MGNREGA.
Suggesting for holistic green revolution including fisheries, poultries and animal husbandry, he favoured irrigation facility to every inch of cultivating land.
Reiterating for uplift of girls education, he suggested for free education for girls till the university level.
PTI
