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Trinamool’s land policy delayed West Bengal border fencing: MHA’s 2023 affidavit in Supreme Court
The MHA affidavit in 2023 cited West Bengal’s land acquisition approach as a key factor delaying border fencing with Bangladesh. Subsequent 2025-2026 submissions and a May 2026 political announcement highlight ongoing land transfer challenges and new timelines for fencing work.
Why It Matters
The timeline shows how intergovernmental policy differences and land acquisition methods can impact border security infrastructure and national security projects.
Timeline
5 Events
Article publication date for the report
May 12, 2026
The article detailing the MHA affidavit and related developments was published on May 12, 2026.
May 11, 2026: BJP government announces land transfer to BSF within 45 days
May 11, 2026
On May 11, 2026, soon after assuming power in West Bengal for the first time, the BJP government announced that it had decided to transfer land to the Border Security Force (BSF) within the next 45 days.
January 2026 Calcutta High Court submissions on border land handover
January 2026
Submissions before the Calcutta High Court in January 2026 stated that 78 km of border land had been handed over to the BSF over the past three years, while 121 km remained to be transferred. The court noted that of the 285.25 km of border length required, the State Cabinet had cleared 256 km. The submissions also indicated land purchases of 269 acres along 48.49 km had been completed but not handed over, with about 1,156 acres still awaiting acquisition. The court discussed the applicability and feasibility of invoking Section 40 of the LARR Act, 2013 for urgent possession, and provided figures on the Indo-Bangladesh border length in West Bengal, stating that the total length is 22,16.7 km, of which 1,647.696 km has been fenced.
Parliamentary note on land remaining and feasibility (2025)
2025
In a 2025 parliamentary submission, the MHA stated that of the remaining 569.004 km of border yet to be covered, 112.780 km is non-feasible for fencing and 456.224 km is feasible for construction of fencing and related work.
MHA affidavit in Supreme Court on land acquisition policy (2023)
2023
The MHA filed a 2023 affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that the West Bengal government did not adopt the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. It said the state follows a Direct Land Purchase Policy for land needed for public purposes, including national security projects, which the affidavit described as slower and more complex. The affidavit attributed delays in land acquisition to non cooperation from the state government, hindering timely fencing along the Indo-Bangladesh border.