Centre assurance full rehabilitation of people to be hit by Indo-Bangla border pact

New Delhi: The Centre on Thursday assured all states bordering Bangladesh that it would provide adequate compensation to rehabilitate the people to be affected due to exchange of enclaves held adversely by the two countries following the implementation of the Land Boundary Agreement. [caption id=“attachment_1846319” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Reuters[/caption] The assurance was given by Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami at a high-level meeting held here and attended by senior officials of West Bengal and Assam. The states, particularly West Bengal, conveyed that the central government must pay enough funds for rehabilitation of the affected people as it was facing a financial crunch. Goswami and other officials told them that finance would not be a problem for rehabilitation. The meeting came ahead of possible consideration and clearance of a constitution amendment bill by the union cabinet next week to give effect to LBA under which 161 enclaves will be exchanged between India and Bangladesh. There are 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in India with a total estimated 51,500 population in them, as per a headcount conducted jointly by the two countries in July, 2011. Under the exchange of enclaves, India will get 2777.038 acres of land and will give 2267.682 acres to Bangladesh, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. The parliamentary standing committee on MEA has in its report on the constitution amendnent bill said that the issue of providing suitable rehabilitation and compensation to the people who will be returning from Indian enclaves in Bangladesh is not part of the bill. The LBA was signed by India and Bangladesh way back in 1974. While Bangladesh government ratified the deal in 1974, the agreement was not ratified by Indian parliament as it involved cession of territory which required constitution amendment before ratification. The standing committee has recommended urgent passage of the bill in national interest and in the interest of broader ties with Bangladesh, one of India’s closest neighbours. PTI