The Economic Times :
NEW DELHI: In the backdrop of the launch of two pilot projects of ‘smart fencing’ along India’s International Border with Pakistan on Monday, a similar setup that was planned border along the Brahmaputra river in Dhubri later this month has hit rough weather.
The Border Security Force (BSF), which is implementing this project in Assam, says that it is facing a few challenges such as setting up technological equipment on the riverbed with the river changing course regularly, finding sensors that can work in water and shortage of power and data connectivity. However, it adds that things are on track as a part of the project is already operational and the entire project is likely to be launched in December. The Dhubri project was supposed to be launched on September 27, but there are certain technical issues, said Dr N C Asthana, Additional Director General, BSF.
Regarding these issues I may point out that 12.36 percent of the Indo-Pakistan border is riverine, while 37 percent of the border on the Eastern side of India is riverine. That’s where the problems are created. Technical issues are like this if someone is infiltrating through the riverine stretch…the problem is that there is so much ambient noise that it requires a software of the capability of a sonar to bring out the characteristic signature. For example, cattle could be crossing or a boat is passing by, the software should be able to differentiate each one of them,” he explained at a seminar here called ‘Smart Border Management 2018’.
Even A K Sharma, Additional Director General (Logistics) at the BSF Headquarters, elaborated these challenges. “The river changes course and a whole installation can get washed away. We have to make a project which is dynamic, so that even if the river changes course it should still work,” he said. He also said that only a few sensors can work in rivers such as sonars and getting them is another challenge. “There is also no power and data connectivity in these areas, so have to setup these things ourselves,” he added.
The project is being implemented at a 60 km patch. “A part of the project is functional. The total project is still under development. We are taking more time to do add some additional things. It is planned to be launched by December,” he said.
The project is being implemented in this area as fencing is not possible. Meant to stop any illegal activity such as cattle smuggling, it is called the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS). The CIBMS- a concept and nomenclature written by Commandant Jagdish Maithani- integrates different sensors to maintain surveillance over an area. The data collected is sent to a command and control centre, from where operations can be directed. It consists of five types of sensors- radar, electro optics, unattended ground sensors, OFC based sensors and mini aerostat.
Two pilot projects of the CIBMS each covering 5.5 km patch of land along the International Border with Pakistan in Jammu was inaugurated by Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday. Singh at the launch said that the system would prevent the infiltration of terrorists and will reduce the casualties of security forces at the border. He also mentioned a future plan of covering more than 2000 km of ‘vulnerable’ and unfenced areas through CIBMS.
