The Indian government instructed its border guards to exercise maximum tolerance to prevent killing of innocent people on the border.

Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said this in New Delhi yesterday while talking to a group of Bangladeshi journalists visiting India at the invitation of the Indian external affairs ministry.

“We are equally concerned at the casualties in the border.... Forty percent of the total casualties are Indians, so we are sincere to stop this,” she said.

Rao said India and Bangladesh should make joint efforts to stop illegal border crossing especially at night. It is very difficult for the border guards to identify criminals or innocent people in the dark.

A campaign should be launched to dissuade people from cross-ingtheborderillegally.

She emphasised the need for stronger coordination between the border guards of the two countries to reduce casualties.

Replying to a question on Tipaimukh dam, the Indian secretary categorically said no construction is taking place at the site and the project is purely for generation of hydroelectricity and water management during floods and dry seasons.

There is no irrigation project at the site and also no plan to divert water.

India will not implement any project that may inflict suffering on Bangladesh or affect the country adversely, Rao said. The Tipaimukh project will rather be helpful for Bangladesh.

On the visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Bangladesh, Rao said the visit will take place sometime this year and both the countries are working to fix a suitable date.

The Indian PM's visit will significantly contribute to improving bilateral relations and resolving issues relating to trade, economy, security, border, water sharing and power sector.

The Indian foreign secretary also responded to ques-tions regarding nonimplementation of Indian commitments like full-time access of Bangladeshis to Tin Bigha corridor, export of 5 lakh tonnes of food grain, export of electricity, Teesta water sharing, exchange of enclaves and rebuilding of a village at cyclone Sidr affected area in Bangladesh.

In response, she said India will soon grant the access to mainland through Tin Bigha corridor.

Asked about the delay in exporting 3 lakh tonnes of rice and 2 lakh tonnes of wheat to Bangladesh, Nirupama Rao said the delay is not intentional and it is because of legal and bureaucratic tangles. She also said the project to rebuild a village in the Sidr-affected area is in progress.

Replying to a question, she said the death of Bin Laden will not eliminate terrorism in the region because there are other terrorist groups still active. So fight against terrorism should continue.

There has been huge progress in implementation of various projects mentioned in the joint communique issued during the landmark visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India, she said.

Everything is on the right track and India will fulfil all commitments given to Bangladesh, added Rao.

Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash, Foreign Ministry Director Deepak Mittal and other senior officials of the ministry were present.