Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 13: After dropping hints on possible resolution of 67 years long problems of West Pakistan Refugees, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has, in principle, conceded the long pending demand of border migrants to rehabilitate them by allotting them 5 marla plots in safer zones in three border districts of Jammu, Samba and Kathua.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the MHA has agreed to decades long demand of the border migrants and directed the authorities in Jammu and Kashmir to identify number of families and population living between three to four kilometers area along the IB and five kilometers separately in all three border districts of Jammu region and land in safer zones, where they could be allotted the plots.
Sources said Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami has also written a letter to the State Government to provide sufficient land for constructing the special structures in a bid to provide shelter to 5,000 border firing-affected families in the first phase.
“If the land was made available, the Government may construct small structure for each of the family so that they can immediately shift whenever there is firing from across the border,’’ sources said adding the Government in the long run would provide similar structures for all border migrants living within firing range of Pakistan.
The sources said some concrete bunkers in border areas will also be constructed for civilian population to take shelter in case of heavy shelling.
Nearly 600 incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistan occurred in 2014, the highest since the truce came into force in 2003, along with the Indo-Pak border witnessing the worst such escalation during August to October which left 13 people, including two security personnel dead.
A total of 19 people, including five jawans, were killed and over 150 injured in such incidents last year.
“On the directions of the Government of India, the Revenue authorities in three border districts of Jammu, Samba and Kathua have set into motion the process to identify the people living within three to four kilometers and five kilometers range of the International Border separately and the land in safer zones, which could be allotted to them,’’ sources said.
They added that the MHA has decided to bear entire cost expenditure of the land allocation to the border migrants in the safer areas.
According to preliminary assessment, over 200 villages fall within three to four kilometers radius of the International Border in three districts of Jammu, Samba and Kathua while the number would go up between 250 to 300 if five kilometers distance is taken into account (from the IB) for rehabilitation of the border migrants.
In latest round of shelling and firing on the IB in Hiranagar sector, Pakistan had used long range weapons to fire mortar shells deep inside the Indian territory. The shells had landed three to four kilometers inside the villages. Keeping in view such a situation, sources said the Government of India was likely to take five kilometers radius into account for rehabilitation of the border migrants.
“This could benefit about two lakh population living along the border areas,’’ sources said, adding that under the proposal every family falling within the criteria of five kilometers radius of the IB would be allotted five marlas land in safer zones, which will be identified by the Revenue authorities. However, construction on the plots would be the job of border dwellers.
The border people would keep their existing houses and land, sources said.
They added that Revenue authorities in all three districts of Jammu, Samba and Kathua have already initiated the exercise to identify the land in safer zones for allotment to the border migrants. The Government of India would pay to the State Government for acquiring land in the safer zones for the border people once the process is completed.
During 2013, 2014 and 2015, the people living in border areas of Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts had to leave their houses several times and take shelter in relief camps following heavy mortar shelling and firing from Pakistan side.
The Congress, which was partners in PDP and NC Governments and had led the coalition in between for two and half years during the past 12 years, had several times promised the border migrants about sanction of 5 marlas land in their favour in safer zones. In 2002, the Congress had made the demand even part of its election manifesto. However, the Congress never fulfilled the demand notwithstanding that it was in power for the past 12 years in the State and 10 years at the Centre.
“The Government of India was of the view that by allotting 5 marlas plot to each family living on the border in the safer zones, the problem of border migration in the wake of Pakistan shelling and firing would be solved once and for all,’’ sources said.
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