Shillong, April 23: The D.D. Lapang government has deputed a team to inspect all disputed stretches of the Indo-Bangladesh border as the first step towards “permanently” ending the row over demarcation of territory.

The Co-ordination Committee on Indo-Bangladesh Border Fencing, comprising representatives of the government and several NGOs, will visit Umkiang, Malider, Hingeria, Kaliang and Borghat in the Jaintia Hills on Wednesday. Two more inspections in the East Khasi Hills will take place on April 30 and May 2.

The Co-ordination Committee on International Borders has been opposing the erection of fences along some stretches of the border on the ground that farmers would lose vast tracts of land to Bangladesh. The National Building Construction Corporation was forced to abandon work along the 40-km stretch from Nongjri in the East Khasi Hills to Jaliakhola in the Jaintia Hills last month.

Meghalaya has a 443-km-long border with Bangladesh. The fencing project has been completed in all areas except those where farmers have complained of “faulty demarcation”. NGOs representing the farmers recently issued “quit notices” to NBCC teams involved in the project.

Deputy chief minister Donkupar Roy, also the chairman of the border committee, said the government was “serious” about ending the dispute and that inspections would be done as scheduled. “I am out of station and will not be able to join the inspection team on Wednesday, but other senior MLAs and government officials will be there. We are sure about finding a solution,” he added.

D.D. Lapang is said to have told representatives of the government to “meticulously” conduct the inspection.