‘Next-gen border security to enhance vigilance’
Agartala/New Delhi, June 5: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a fully developed nation by 2047 can only be achieved by first ensuring a secure nation, stressing the need to protect the country from smuggling, human trafficking and drug abuse.
Addressing Border Security Force (BSF) personnel during his visit to the Lankamura Border Outpost (BOP) in Tripura, Shah said the Government of India is building a comprehensive smart security grid to strengthen border management and internal security.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a vision of making India a fully developed nation by 2047. To achieve this goal, India must first be made secure. The country must be protected from smuggling, human trafficking and drug abuse affecting our youth,” he said.
The Home Minister said there is a need to transform the existing concept of border fencing and security management. He added that the government is integrating smart fencing and a quadrilateral security grid into the work culture of all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) responsible for border security.
Shah said the Modi Government has decided to develop “smart borders” wherever the Border Security Force (BSF) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) are deployed. Under the quadrilateral security strategy, local administration, technology and security personnel will work together to make India’s borders impregnable.
He said the smart border concept is in its final stage and a pilot project will soon be launched at seven to eight locations across different borders of the country. Lessons learnt from the pilot project will be incorporated before expanding the initiative across the entire border network.
The Home Minister said local administrations would play a critical role in strengthening border security. District Magistrates, Superintendents of Police, village patwaris and sarpanches will be integrated into the framework, as border security cannot be achieved in isolation.
Describing the Tripura Frontier as strategically important, Shah said the government has approved the installation of 119 kilometres of new fencing to replace portions of nearly 650 kilometres of fencing that are over 15 years old.
He added that several projects aimed at improving facilities at border outposts, including electricity supply, green energy initiatives and safe drinking water, have already been completed.
Shah also inaugurated personnel accommodation facilities at the BSF’s 37th Battalion and virtually laid the foundation stone for a Quarter Guard Complex at the 97th Battalion.
He said the Modi Government has undertaken several measures to improve living conditions and welfare facilities for security personnel and their families.
“The very mention of the BSF evokes respect among the people of the country. The nation recognises your sacrifice, dedication and service,” he told the troops while interacting with them and boosting their morale.
Earlier in the day, Shah planted an agarwood sapling in Agartala on the occasion of World Environment Day as part of a nationwide plantation drive undertaken by the Ministry of Home Affairs and its affiliated organisations.
Highlighting environmental conservation efforts, he said personnel of all CAPFs have planted more than 7.5 crore trees since 2019. Between 40 lakh and 60 lakh trees will be planted this year, while all saplings that have not survived will be replanted.
He added that CAPF personnel are expected to plant another two crore trees next year.
Shah said India has demonstrated its commitment to environmental protection by achieving Paris Agreement targets ahead of schedule and noted that environmental conservation has been an integral part of India’s civilisational ethos.
Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, Union Home Secretary, Director of the Intelligence Bureau, Secretary (Border Management), Director General of BSF and other senior officials were present on the occasion.
As part of the World Environment Day campaign, more than five lakh saplings were planted across the country by the Ministry of Home Affairs, CAPFs, Assam Rifles, National Security Guard (NSG), Delhi Police, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), National Investigation Agency (NIA), Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Inter-State Council Secretariat (ISCS).
