DM expected to attend North Tech Symposium
Will tour forward areas on LoC in Rajouri, Poonch
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 26: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to undertake a two-day visit to Jammu on September 12 and 13 during which he will inaugurate nearly 74 projects, physically as well as virtually, attend a North Tech Symposium and undertake a visit to forward areas on the Line of Control (LoC) to review security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Defence Minister is expected to meet top Army Commanders to take stock of infiltration attempts on the LoC and security scenario in the Kashmir valley as well as twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch where Pakistan and militant outfits are trying to revive militancy.
While exact dates and schedule of Rajnath Singh’s visit to Jammu are being worked out, official sources told the Excelsior that tentative dates for the visit include September 12 and 13 though an official confirmation from the Ministry of Defence is awaited.
The Defence Minister will inaugurate Devak bridge physically in Samba district, most likely on September 12. And from the spot, he will virtually inaugurate a total of 74 projects in northern and western frontiers.
Senior officers of Army and Border Roads Organization (BRO) are likely to accompany Rajnath Singh during project inauguration ceremony.
The projects to be inaugurated by the Defence Minister include airstrips, tunnels and bridges constructed along the northern and western borders. He will physically inaugurate nearly half-a-kilometer-long fully constructed bridge on River Devak that connects areas along the International Border (IB) with the mainland.
Construction of the Devak Bridge in Samba district has been accomplished within two years under Project Sampark.
This bridge, positioned on the Devika River, holds immense importance from both strategic and socio-economic perspective as it enables rapid movement of forces along the border, benefiting the villages of Folpur and Gulpur situated along the International Border.
The Defence Minister is likely to visit North Tech Symposium 2023 being organized by the Ministry of Defence at IIT Jammu from September 11 to 13. He will visit the Symposium on September 12 after inauguration of the projects.
“North Tech Symposium is a technology showcase event which provides an efficacious platform for Army industry participation with intent to interface directly with end user and creating awareness about contemporary technologies and equipment that can be exploited to meet operation and logistic requirements of the Northern Command,” sources said.
They added that the event also facilitates structured approach for product evaluation, proritization and acquisition besides providing viable and actionable inputs for formulation of procurement plans.
The symposium will be held at IIT Jammu from September 11-13 and nearly 150 vendors are expected to participate in it. The Symposium would consist of seminar and exhibition and the military equipment display.
Sources said the Defence Minister is also expected to undertake a visit to forward areas on the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts and interact with Army Commanders and soldiers for on spot assessment of the situation. He will also be briefed by top Army Commanders of Northern Command and 16 Corps on the situation.
While ceasefire between India and Pakistan has been holding on both LoC as well as International Border in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan army keeps aiding and abetting infiltration attempts on the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts. However, most of such intrusion bids have been foiled by the troops.
Concerns have been expressed by the authorities over Pakistan’s attempt to disturb peace in Rajouri and Poonch districts though six militants have been killed there (other than LoC) in less than two months after three major incidents at Dhangri and Kandi forests (Rajouri) and Bhatta Durrian (Mendhar, Poonch) in which seven civilians and 10 Army soldiers lost their lives.
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