The new-found bonhomie between the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif has not deterred Ministry of Home Affairs to go ahead with its proposal of constructing over 20,000 safety bunkers for the border residents living in the direct line of fire across five border districts of Jammu region.
To begin with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is launching its pilot project of constructing at least 60 concrete bunkers along the International border across Hiranagar and Samba sectors in Jammu.
The fortified bunkers are expected to cater to the border population living in the radius of 1-5 km from the border/line of control.
The location of the bunkers would be finalised keeping in view the ease of mobility and the shortest response time needed to reach inside safety zone in the wake of cross border firing.
Ahead of releasing the first instalment of the multi crore project several ground surveys were conducted by the highest authorities to finalise the design modifications keeping in mind the basic amenities required inside the bunkers in the wake of extended hostilities.
To begin with the Union Government has sanctioned `3 crore to construct 60 bunkers in Jammu frontier during phase-I of the project.
MoS PMO Dr Jitendra Singh Sunday told reporters, “ the govt has proposed to construct 60 bunkers with a capacity to accommodate 20 people along with toilet and kitchen facilities in the border belt of Hiranagar and Samba”.
He said each bunker would cost Rs 5 lakhs and in the next phase the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch would also be included in the list.
According to official sources at the time of increasing hostilities between the two neighbouring countries the state govt had mooted a proposal to build around 20,000 bunkers for the entire border belt in Jammu region.
“Despite recent exchange of warm hugs and golden
hand shake between the dignitaries we cannot lower our guard. We are going ahead with the proposal of constructing concrete bunkers for the local population in the border areas”, a senior State Government official of Public works department said.
The project is likely to be executed by the Rural engineering wing of the Public Works Department on war footing. Once completed it will help the local district authorities in mobilising relief material for the border residents in safe zones.
The rate of fatal causalities would also go down significantly after the completion of bunkers in the border areas.
For last two years Pak rangers were targeting the civilian pockets using heavy calibre of weapons. This targeted shelling triggered panic reaction among the border dwellers and disturbed their peaceful lives inside their homes and hearths. Around this time the local border residents had pressurised the state govt to evolve a permanent strategy to deal with the issue
Meanwhile, interacting with the media persons here at his official residence Dr Jitendra Singh also clarified that a proposal to award residential plots of 5 marlas each to the border residents in Hiranagar tehsil are pending due to non completion of formalities by the State Revenue department.
“We have identified 80 kanals of land for distribution among the border dwellers but the state revenue department is yet to complete the necessary formalities”, he added.