Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday reviewed the infrastructure development projects and security arrangements along the India-Nepal border.During a meeting here, a detailed presentation was made to the minister by the border management division of the ministry of home affairs, an official release said."Administrative and environmental clearances for projects in the border areas were discussed. It was decided that the home ministry will take up pending environmental issues with chief ministers concerned and with minister of environment and forests (Prakash Javadekar) for expediting these projects," it said.
The progress on border roads in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand was also discussed, apart from connectivity and communication in border states. The meeting was told that starting FM radio stations in the border areas has been taken up with information and broadcasting ministry and the connectivity issue with communications and information technology ministry.The empowered committee on border infrastructure was regularly reviewing availability of electricity and water as well as mobile and road connectivity to facilitate working of border guarding force in these areas.In the review meeting, issues of cross-border crime, fake Indian currency, smuggling of narcotics, human trafficking and anti-India propaganda in border areas were also discussed.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary, union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, Secretary (border management) Anoop Kumar Srivastava, Sashastra Seema Bal Director General B.D. Sharma and other senior officers from the ministries of home and external affairs and security agencies participated in the meeting.