Tripura governor praises border haats, flays quality of border fencing

Tripura Governor Padmanava Balkrishna Acharya on Tuesday expressed hope that border haats would play a vital role in improving relations between India and Bangladesh as people-to-people contact would improve through them.

The governor stated this after visiting Kamala Sagar area of west Tripura where the second border haat between Tripura and Bangladesh is being constructed.

“The first border haat was supposed to open by now but it has been delayed. It will now be inaugurated in November. This is an extremely wonderful effort to enhance people-to-people contact and create goodwill amongst the people so that we care for each other, and be friendly for the prosperity of both the countries,” said Acharya.

He stated that the Central government under Narendra Modi already gave an indication of India’s willingness to improve its relation with Bangladesh.

Visit of Sushma Swaraj to Dhaka only reinforced India’s keenness for better ties with Bangladesh, he added.

“There is no room for tension or enmity. We must have friendly and healthier relation so that both the nations can develop. Government keeps on changing, so it is important that the people on both sides have better contact, exchange their views, heritage and have better business relation. The state as well as the central government has taken a very strong step in improving business and people-to-people friendship with neighbouring Bangladesh,” said the Governor.

He however expressed his 'dismay' over the quality of fence erected along ninety percent of the state's 856 km long border with Bangladesh.

“The fence can be easily cut and breached any time. The quality of work does not justify the huge spending incurred in erecting it,” Acharya, who is also the governor of Nagaland, said.

He was formally interacting with the media in the 'Durbar Hall' of the Raj Bhawan here.