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Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 4: In a major announcement for the border migrants, who suffered a lot during recent heavy shelling and firing by Pakistan on both International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC), Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today directed the administration to prepare proposal for construction of individual bunkers for the border dwellers instead of community bunkers so that the people could immediately shift over to them during misadventures by Pakistan.
Mehbooba made the significant announcement while inter-acting with border migrants at Nowshera and Manjakote in Rajouri district and Poonch and chairing two separate meetings of the district level officers at both the places in which she along with Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, Rural Development Minister Abdul Haq Khan and Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Choudhary Zulfikar reviewed border situation in the wake of recent heavy shelling on LoC and IB in which nearly dozen civilians were killed and about 50 others got injured.
At all the migrant camps, the Chief Minister was requested for construction of individual bunkers by the border people on the ground that they can’t stay in community bunkers for a long due to privacy problems and shifting of cattle, a number of whom have died in the recent shelling.
Mehbooba assured the border people that their demand would be taken up on top priority by the Government. Later, while reviewing the LoC situation at the district level security and border situation review meetings at both Rajouri and Poonch, she directed the administration to come up with a proposal for construction of individual bunkers for the people of IB and LoC.
According to sources, the State Government could ask the Union Home Ministry to have a re-look at its proposal for construction of community bunkers at both LoC and IB in five districts of Jammu region including Jammu, Samba and Kathua (on the IB) and Rajouri and Poonch (on the LoC).
“Instead, it would ask for construction of individual bunkers for the people living within the firing and shelling range on both IB and LoC so that the people along with their cattle could immediately shift there in the wake of Pakistan shelling and firing,” sources said.
The State Government would contribute its share in the construction of individual bunkers.
Sources said at all the migrant camps in Nowshera and Manjakote and the villages affected by firing, visited by the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister, the people expressed their unwillingness over shifting to community bunkers, some of which have been constructed on the LoC in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri while others were under construction along IB in Jammu district, on the ground that there was no privacy of the females in bunkers and, moreover, the people can’t keep their cattle there.
A number of cattle were killed and injured during the shelling.
The Chief Minister announced relief of Rs 30,000 per cattle, which were killed in Pakistan shelling on IB and LoC. The relief would be given from out of the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
This was also a long pending demand of the border people as earlier there was no provision for payment of relief for the cattle perished in Pakistan shelling. However, the Government took up the issue earlier various options were explored for helping the border dwellers, who had lost their cattle in Pakistan shelling.
“The Government has now decided that the border people would get Rs 30,000 for every cattle killed in Pakistan shelling and firing. The payment would be made from out of the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund,” sources said.
Mehbooba directed for expediting work on 132 KV Jammu-Poonch electricity line, which was damaged in 2014.
Earlier in the day, Mehbooba visited various Government accommodations in Nowshera, where the border migrants of forward villages of Nowshera sector were camping and Manjakote, where people were hit by shelling and firing leading to death of two women.
People in Mendhar town held demonstration and blocked road for over an hour in protest against the cancellation of the Chief Minister’s visit. The people had reached Mendhar town in the morning to meet Mehbooba and apprise her of the problems resulting out of Pakistan shelling and firing as shells had reached right up to Mendhar town.
They shouted slogans against the Government and blocked road when they came to know that the Chief Minister will not be visiting Mendhar town.
In her inter-action with border migration Mehbooba said there was not alternative to peace and reconciliation and called upon India and Pakistan to take immediate and effective measures to revive process of comprehensive and composite dialogue.
“Instead of squandering their resources on meaningless conflict, India and Pakistan can be of great help to each other in their fight against common challenges of poverty and economic deprivation in the region,” she said.
Recalling the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, she said that due to various internal and external initiatives taken during the period, peace prevailed along the borders and the people living there were happy as the guns remained silent. She hoped that today again the leadership of our country with a strong support and backing will find a way out as wars do not help address any issue.
Citing examples of war like situations in various countries like Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq, the Chief Minister said that wars have resulted in complete destruction of once most prosperous countries and annihilation of their cultures and civilizations.
“Our political leadership did take the initiative to revive the process of reconciliation with Pakistan when Prime Minister, Narendra Modi visited Lahore but then Pathankot happened and everything came to a standstill,” she said, adding that it was time for Pakistani political leadership also to reciprocate and consider giving peace a chance in the region.
Mehbooba said that when the nation was divided on the basis of religion, Jammu & Kashmir rising above religious lines believed in brotherhood and inclusiveness. However, it is since these last 70 years of that division that the State has been facing this issue that has resulted in huge challenges to it, she said.
An official handout said:-
The Chief Minister said that under the new scheme announced by the Government of India next of kin of those who have died in the border firing will get an ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh. She also gave away cheques of the initial amount/installment to the next of kin of those who died in the border firing.
The Chief Minister also visited the make-shift camp where the people from the affected border villages have been shifted and took stock of the arrangements put in place for them. She asked the concerned officers to ensure that all necessary arrangements are made to make their stay comfortable including ration, power, water and bedding.
Later, the Chief Minister also chaired meetings of district administration separately at Rajouri and Poonch wherein she was briefed by the respective Deputy Commissioners about the measures taken to address the issues arising out of border shelling.
In Rajouri, she was informed about the arrangements put in place and measures taken with respect to evacuation of people from the worst affected villages to safer areas in make-shift camps. It was further informed that there are four border zones within 0-5 kms including Rajouri, Manjakote, Nowshera and Sunderbani, covering 59 villages and 68 locations identified for establishment of camps.
During the meeting Tehsil wise villages located along the LoC (witin 0-2 Kms) along with the details of population, which are most vulnerable to shelling, details regarding number of deaths, injured, loss of livestock, damage to property was also given in detail. The steps taken for evacuation of affected people including evacuation plans, establishment of control rooms besides healthcare facilities including ambulances and availability of medicines, ration, water and other arrangements were also highlighted.
A similar meeting was also held at Poonch wherein the Deputy Commissioner gave details with respect to Poonch, Mandi, Kirni, and Mendhar sectors. It was informed that at least 60 schools have been identified for establishment of make-shift camps for relocating the people living along the borders.
The Chief Minister was also apprised with preparatory arrangements like evacuation plans, medical facilities including emergency healthcare service, availability of ambulances and medicines besides other basic amenities that are required to be provided at such camps. She was informed with details regarding the relief amount paid to the next of kin of those who have died and those injured in such incidents.
Mehbooba sought details with respect of schools which have been temporarily shut down due to shelling across borders. She was informed that in certain areas students may continue their education in schools in towns where the camps have been established, while as the situation is being continuously monitored.
She asked for details with respect to issues arising out of pending harvest along the border areas. She instructed the district administration to fully support the people and ensure that they are provided with all necessary help during these testing times. She enquired about availability of medicines at dispensaries in the border areas and also said that a critical care ambulance for the district shall be considered to facilitate better handling of medical emergency situations.
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