BSF installs beehives on India-Bangladesh fence
India’s Border Security Force (BSF) has installed beehives on the India-Bangladesh border fence in West Bengal to stop instances of cutting the hedge for cattle smuggling and other crimes, besides generating livelihood for the locals.
The first-of-its-kind initiative was launched recently by the BSF’s 32nd battalion in the border areas of Nadia district with an aim to ensure border security and help the local populace through beekeeping, PTI reported, quoting a senior BSF officer.
West Bengal shares a nearly 2,217km border with Bangladesh.
India’s Ayush Ministry has been roped in by the BSF, which comes under the home ministry, for the project. The ministry has provided the border-guard force with the beehives and required expertise to fix those on the alloy-made “smart fence”, reports our New Delhi correspondent.
Sujeet Kumar, commandant of the 32nd BSF battalion who conceptualised the idea, said the force has undertaken the initiative under the “Vibrant Village Programme” and gone a step further by requesting the Ayush Ministry to provide it with medicinal plants that bear flowers and can be planted around these bee boxes so that the bees can pollinate in abundance.