Search for campsites outside WB
From our Special Correspondent, NEW DELHI, JUNE 4- The Government of India has started a search for appropriate sites for camping Bangladesh refugees in Orissa, Assam, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. it is authoritatively learnt.
The projected camps, where the refugees are to stay temporarily, will be big enough to house at least 50,000 in each of them. Some may be large enough to have a lakh of refugees.
These steps are meant to lighten the impossible burden West Bengal and Tripura are bearing at the moment, with the rate of arrivals showing no sign of decreasing.
The problems arising out of the heavy influx of refugees in West Bengal will be one of the issues to be discussed by the Prime Minister who is going to Calcutta tomorrow. (it is learnt, she will also discuss other problems too, such as law and order. etc).
The Deputy Minister, Labour and Rehabilitation, Mr. Bal Govind Verma, left for Calcutta this (Friday) evening.
According to him, the refugees numbered 41,61,000 on June 1 last. In the last three days of May, two lakhs of them had crossed into India from Bangladesh.
Mr. Verma thinks that the smaller camps should be merged into bigger ones. At the moment, there are some 406 refugee camps.
The Centre’s scheme to set up big-size camps will take time to be ready. Proper sites are to be selected. The places should not be very far from the borders. Then, arrangements are to be made for housing, camps, offices, stores, water, light etc. The Defence Ministry is reported to have agreed to lend motor vehicles for the transfer of refugees from West Bengal and other parts.
The USA and the USSR have been approached by India to help transfer of refugees and relief materials by big transport planes. The USA is sending a C-130 for a test flight to Agartala shortly.
At Lido, near Assam-Burma border, a war-time aerodrome is being made ready as a refugee camp. Refugees from Tripura will be taken there.
At Mana camp in Madhya Pradesh, run by the Central Government, 50,000 of Bangladesh refugees will be shifted.
The proposed big campus too will be directly under the Central Government.
To fight cholera epidemic, assistance of a large number of Army and Railway doctors is proposed to be taken by the Central Government.
Whatever measures are taken by the Centre, its policy towards the refugees remains unchanged : no rehabilitation in India, and they shall have to go back to Bangladesh in due course.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 05.06.1971