Centre moves to cover 'chicken neck'

The central government is moving to upgrade security in the strategic Siliguri corridor, which connects the Indian heartland with the border states of the North-East.

The area, home to several vital installations like oil pipelines, railway lines, national highways and storage facilities, is 180 km long and 20-60 km wide. This narrow stretch, also referred to as the chicken-neck area, shares international borders with Nepal and Bangladesh.

The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) has taken notes of the security vulnerabilities of the region, especially from the terror perspective.

A meeting was held late last month to discuss a whole set of measures to deal with these vulnerabilities, sources told Business Standard.

The meeting was attended by field agencies, including the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Intelligence Bureau, Border Security Force, state government officials, and representatives of various ministries including home, power, petroleum, road transport among others.

The discussion centred on the NSCS document titled, 'Siliguri corridor "� implications on India's security', which outlines various aspects of the issue.

Accordingly, the NSCS has proposed the creation of a new Central Co-ordination Cell, which would function under the overall control of the West Bengal government.

In addition, the NSCS has proposed that all container traffic passing through the area and Nepal and Bangladesh will be scanned at the border before it transits further.

The NSCS has also desired that the central ministries and state authorities determine specific security requirements in respect of the railway network, power facilities, oil and gas pipelines as well as communication infrastructure.

Among the major installations in the area are Oil India Ltd and Indian Oil storage facilities, oil pipelines from New Jalpaiguri to Barapatuajopa and from Pillanshot tunnel to Baikunthipur forest on Sevoke Road. There is also a gas turbine station in the region.

Strategic affairs analyst Major-General (retired) Ashok K Mehta says the country's actual chicken's neck lies along the Siliguri corridor. He has warned of China's proximity to the area and a Bangladesh that is friendly to the Chinese.

"The move to upgrade has been overdue. It ought to have been done 20 years ago. It must have been prompted by specific security concerns. I wish they had started earlier."