NEW DELHI: To avoid “undue pressure” in connection with migration, both India and Bangladesh have banned any purchase and sale of land in the enclaves till July 31.
Therefore, 979 residents will only have three months to dispose of their immovable assets, convert it into cash and then try to repatriate the money to India, before the population exchange ends on November 30.
However, repatriation of money, may be the most difficult, with Bangladeshi norms making it extremely difficult to make cash transfers outside the country.
For their rehabilitation, the Centre has already promised a Rs 3,048-crore package to the West Bengal Government.
During the last Indo-Bangla joint border group meeting in Dhaka on July 23, it was decided that inquiry be conducted by Cooch Behar district magistrate and the concerned deputy commissioner in Bangladesh. “A final decision will be taken based on the options after that,” said sources.
Officials are working on the final movement from Bangladesh to India of 979 enclave residents, which include transport, temporary rehabilitation in Cooch Behar, notification of nationality, as well as issuing other documents.