Silchar, Mar 4 (UNI) The Centre has introduced a scheme to rehabilitate families affected by border fencing, official sources said.

At present two border towns in Asom, including Karimganj and Dhubri have been brought under the Integrated Housing Slum Development Project, sources said yesterday, adding, that the project was mooted by the Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation.

In Karimganj, 425 such families will be rehabilitated to a proposed multi-storyed housing complex, which will be raised on 20 bighas of land within the municipal area. A sum of Rs 6 crore has been granted for the same and Karimganj municipal board has been entrusted to implement the project.

In the first phase, those who are below poverty level will be accommodated in the housing complex. The Centre will approve the second phase soon to rehabilitate more families beyond these 425, informed Karimganj municipal board chairman Deborshi Bhattacharjee.

In Barak Valley only about half of the 124 km international border with Bangladesh has been fenced so far. More than 5,000 Indian families have been affected, especially in terms of communication with the mainland, livelihood and security.

UNI