In view of unrelenting shelling and firing by Pakistani Rangers along the LoC as well as the IB, our civilian population living close to the border has been subjected to great suffering, loss and dislocation. It became a serious matter for the administration and the matter was brought to the notice of the Defence and Home Ministries. After due consideration, it was approved at the level of Home Ministry that bunkers should be built along the border which would provide protection to the civilian population when enemy fire and shelling takes place. After all human lives have to be protected.
It is heartening to know that all the 95 bunkers approved under pilot project and Border Area Development Programme (BADP) have been completed. Actually, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had approved construction of 60 bunkers at the rate of Rs 5 lakh per bunker in the border blocks of Jammu district as pilot project. While all the 35 bunkers taken up under BADP were completed in time, some bunkers out of 60 sanctioned under pilot project encountered problem due to high underground water table but the same issue was later resolved and the remaining bunkers were completed. These bunkers have been handed over to the senior and responsible village elders for use during the firing and shelling. Now, the State Government is mulling for more bunkers for all the districts having International Border and Line of Control with Pakistan. The Government has already submitted a proposal to the Central Government for setting up of 20,125 community type bunkers in 448 identified border villages costing Rs 1006.25 crore. This proposal is under the consideration of the Union Home Ministry. We feel that in the light of the ground situation along our border with Pakistan, it is desirable that the proposal of the State Government is accepted and sanction is accorded to the construction of more bunkers along the LoC and International Border as well.
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