Unfortunate as it is, Pakistan has been intermittently creating tension by resorting to unprovoked firing and shelling of our villages close to the LoC and IB. Toiling peasants of border villages become the victims to the violence unleashed by Pakistani Rangers. They want to provide cover to the infiltrating jihdis. Our forces are countering and foiling the attempts of the enemy but in many cases losses of life and property cannot be avoided. Army and the civilian Government have taken many steps to reduce the impact of enemy shelling and firing, but these are not foolproof. A long standing demand of the border dwellers has been to build habitable bunkers along the LoC and IB so that in times of enemy shelling most of the vulnerable population would take shelter there. This proposal has received the nod of the Home Ministry after many discussions.
The Home Ministry has approved construction of 20,125 bunkers in five border districts of Jammu region touching either on LoC or IB and situated within a distance of 1-5 km from the LoC or IB. A sum of 3 crore rupees have been released for construction of 60 bunkers in Jammu district by way of model and if successful, installments for phased construction of bunkers will be released by the MHA. The bunkers will be provided with electricity, sanitation and other facilities and would accommodate about 20 persons in each bunker, who could live in it even for a longer time if shelling continues. Question was asked that in view of improving relations between the two countries as is evident from the fact that for quite some time no firing and shelling has taken place, would it be necessary still to go ahead with the construction of bunkers. The Ministry of Home Affairs, it is believed, is not prepared to take chances and would not like to lower the guard. We know that this is an expensive affair and a big burden on the public exchequer, yet we endorse the idea of the MHA that no chance is to be taken about the security of the border people. We had the cease fire agreement in 2003 but Pakistan threw it to winds. Therefore, we cannot take any more chance in regard to national security. However, we would emphasize that the model of the bunker should be fully examined and approved by expert committee before work on their construction is begun. All stakeholders, people, army, BSF, State Government, police and others somehow related with the matter have to be taken on board.
Follow our WhatsApp channel