AGARTALA, Aug 1 (TIWN): Finally after 4 decades the India and Bangladesh is all set to exchange a total of 162 enclaves as per the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) being ratified by the Indian Parliament on May this year. Between July 6 and 16, a joint survey was conducted and people in the enclaves were given the option to choose their country. As per the agreement, the disputed Chandan Nagar village under the Dhalai district of Tripura would join with the Indian territory whereas Muhri Char of Belonia under South District of Tripura would merge with the Bangladesh territory. However, the door would be finally opened for over 50,000 virtually stateless people to finally get a national identity. India will hand over 51 enclaves, comprising 7,110 acres to Bangladesh whereas the neighboring country will give India 111 enclaves comprising around 17,160 acres. Tripura government had produced all papers related to Chandannagar and Bangladesh have left Chandananagar for Tripura because the families residing there are Indians and used to do cultivation but in case of Muharichar they are raising various questions, said official.According to the sources Bangladesh and India will implement the LBA of 1974 and the enabling Protocol of September, 2011, in a phased manner over the next 11 months.

According to the joint survey report, there are 14500 residents in the 51 Bangladeshi enclaves on the Indian side, and 44500 people in 111 Indian enclaves landlocked in Bangladesh. Theses enclave residents will be permitted to go to India through any border from August 1 to November 3.

The Centre has already sanctioned a Rs 3,048 crore-package for rehabilitation of the people affected by the exchange of enclaves under the LBA implementation. Between July 31, 2015 and June 30, 2016, the entire process, including physical exchange of enclaves and land parcels in adverse possession along with boundary demarcation, is expected to be completed.

The joint survey began in Bangladesh and India on July 6 to record the choice of nationality of 51,584 people in 162 enclaves in each other’s territories prior to the enclave exchange begins.

The land accord was originally agreed in 1974 by Indira Gandhi of India and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of Bangladesh. Progress stopped for a long time, however, after Mujibur was assassinated in 1975 and subsequent governments failed to agree on the transfer of enclaves.

Later on June 6, Saturday India and Bangladesh signed the agreement to abridge their 4,000-km border and clarify the identities of 52,000 living in enclaves. Assam, West Bengal, Tripura and Meghalaya all fall under the bill.

However, the agreement is expected to bring a solution to the two disputed land problems in Tripura-Bangladesh border and benefit other neighbouring state to resolve various other problems including cross border movement.