Shillong: The Meghalaya govt has emphasised the need to expedite pending fencing work on the India-Bangladesh border to curb rampant cattle smuggling.The state has also stressed setting up district-level task forces, joint check points with the Border Security Force in vulnerable areas and a review of the standard operating procedure (SOP) for handling seized cattle.Meghalaya animal husbandry and veterinary minister Sanbor Shullai said 27 km of full-fledged fencing remains incomplete in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills border areas, while more than 7 km is pending in the Garo Hills. “Based on the suggestion of the department and the BSF, we are to speed up border fencing,” he said after chairing a meeting with BSF officials on Friday.“So, the BSF authorities have been requested to provide us with detailed information on the areas which are left to be fully fenced,” Shullai said, adding that the BSF would submit suggestions within 13 days on completing the remaining stretches, following which another joint meeting would be held between the state govt and the BSF.“A few days ago, there was news on social media accusing rampant illegal trading of cattle. So, I immediately wrote to the IG, BSF. Subsequently, today we had a meeting with the IG, BSF, his team, and the veterinary department. We had a very good discussion,” Shullai said.“We have requested the BSF authorities to intensify checking in collaboration with the police department and the border magistrate,” he said. “We have also discussed setting up check points in vulnerable areas where cattle smuggling is going on, jointly with the police, veterinary department and the BSF authorities,” Shullai added.The minister said he has issued directions for the immediate formation of district-level task forces to intercept illegal cattle movement. “I have also requested the officers to immediately set up a special task force based on the rules in all districts to detect the transportation of seized cattle. These seized cattle should be brought to the departmental animal shelter,” he said.
