Nearly 55 km of Manipur’s 398-km international border with Myanmar has been fenced, with the state government setting a target to complete the remaining border fencing work by 2028.
Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam shared the details in the state Assembly while responding to a calling attention motion raised by Congress MLA K Ranjit Singh. The discussion also touched upon reports concerning a possible “land swap” between India and Myanmar.
55 Km of International Border Already Fenced
Konthoujam informed the Assembly that fencing has so far been completed along approximately 55 km of Manipur’s 398-km international boundary with Myanmar.
The border stretch under discussion extends from border pillar number 32 to border pillar number 130. While progress has been made on fencing the international boundary, a substantial portion of the border remains to be covered.
The state government is working towards completing the entire fencing project by 2028, with the initiative being viewed as an important measure for strengthening security along the porous international boundary.
Transport Challenges Delay Border Fencing Work
The Manipur Home Minister said the progress of the fencing project has faced delays because of difficulties in transporting construction materials to remote border areas.
The international boundary passes through difficult and mountainous terrain, creating logistical challenges for agencies involved in the project.
Transporting fencing materials and other equipment to inaccessible locations has affected the pace of construction in some stretches. Despite these challenges, the government has maintained its target of completing the entire fencing project by 2028.
Moreh Sector Remains Highly Sensitive
Konthoujam identified the stretch between border pillars 75 and 79 in the Moreh sector as one of the most sensitive portions of Manipur’s international boundary with Myanmar.
Moreh is an important border town and has strategic significance because of its location along the India-Myanmar frontier.
The government is also working to demarcate sections of the international border that remain unmarked. Proper identification and marking of the boundary are expected to complement the fencing project and help authorities strengthen surveillance and border management.
Government Stresses Need for Stronger Border Security
The Home Minister said border fencing had become necessary from a security perspective.
According to the government, the porous nature of the international border has created several challenges for Manipur, including concerns related to the movement of illegal arms, narcotics and undocumented migrants.
Strengthening physical infrastructure along the border is therefore being viewed as an important component of the wider effort to improve security and monitor cross-border activities.
No Information on Reported India-Myanmar Land Swap
The issue was raised in the Assembly following reports of a possible proposal involving a “land swap” between India and Myanmar.
Konthoujam said the Manipur government had not received any communication from the Ministry of External Affairs regarding such a proposal.
“There has been no information from the Ministry of External Affairs to the state government on the matter,” the minister said in response to the concerns raised during the Assembly discussion.
The Home Minister also said the people of Manipur remained opposed to any loss of territory and asserted that the state government would continue to pursue their concerns.
Centre Expected to Consult Affected People
Konthoujam said that people living in affected areas would be informed before any decision concerning the international boundary was taken.
The statement comes amid concerns over the impact of border-related decisions on communities living close to the India-Myanmar frontier.
Border regions in Manipur include remote settlements and areas where security, connectivity and cross-border movement remain important concerns for local communities.
The government has indicated that public concerns would be taken into consideration in matters affecting the state’s territory and international boundary.
2028 Target Marks Major Border Security Push
With only about 55 km fenced so far, completing the remaining portion of Manipur’s 398-km border with Myanmar will require significant progress over the next two years.
The government’s 2028 target underlines the importance being attached to border infrastructure amid continuing security concerns in the region.
As fencing work continues, authorities will also have to address logistical difficulties, sensitive border stretches and undemarcated sections of the international boundary.
For Manipur, the completion of the fencing project is expected to be a significant step towards strengthening border surveillance and addressing challenges linked to arms, drugs and illegal cross-border movement.