Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 5: Despite clearance by the Ministry of Defence, a proposal for the installation of full body scanners for the scanning of trucks loaded with goods coming from Pakistan occupied Kashmir at Salamabad (Uri) and Chakkan-da-Bagh (Poonch) LoC points, the much needed modern gadgets are no where in sight while with the poor infrastructure available at both the points, the security, immigration and trade facilitation staff is facing lot of problems.
Authoritative sources told the ‘Excelsior’ that Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had initiated the process of procuring the machines (large scanners) from the foreign firms including Germany and USA and the tenders for the same were also placed.
It was expected that both the scanners will be in place at the cross LoC points at Uri and Chakan-da-Bagh before October 2015 but even after the lapse of one more year now ( Oct 2016), there was no development in this regard. It is said that Ministry of Home Affairs was now dragging its feet and maintaining silence on the issue despite the fact that they have procured two scanners for Rs 37 crores each from a foreign firm through global tenders.
The sources further revealed that a team of experts from Delhi had visited the site at Trade Centre Chakkan-da-Bagh about 7-8 months back and they had given instructions to the concerned R&B staff to raise the required structure for the installation of full truck body scanner. The Home Ministry had also sanctioned Rs 8 crore for raising the structure at Poonch LoC point. But till today no funds have been provided and the work on the project could not be started till today. “They have neither given any direction or provided funds to the agency R&B for the construction of the structure at Chakkan-Da-Bagh Trade Centre,” the sources maintained.
Replying to a question, a senior officer in the Industries department revealed that MHA has been maintaining silence over the issue for the past some time and said to be dragging feet despite the fact that they have purchased two scanners from the foreign firms one for Salamabad ( Uri) and another for Chakkan-da-Bagh Trade Facilitation Centre in Poonch.
Trade Facilitation Officer, Poonch, Tanveer Ahmed when contacted said that he was not much aware about the latest developments but he maintained that Rs 10.50 crore were provided for raising additional infrastructure at Chakkan-da-Bagh including barracks, parking space for truck, toilets and allied facilities for drivers and staff.
The work was in progress at the site. He said a team of experts along with R&B engineers from Jammu and Poonch had visited there and they had also identified the site for installation of full body scanner but the construction work on the site has not been started. They seems to have gone silent on the issue as there is no development observed on the subject for the last several months.
The sources further revealed that necessity to install full body scanners for trucks loaded with goods was felt by the Indian security agencies after the Customs/ Excise and security staff at Chakkan-da-Bagh and Uri recovered some objectionable material, including live cartridges of guns and Satellite phones concealed in the packed boxes of goods coming from PoK side on several occasions at the Trade Facilitation Centres at both the LoC points. Moreover, the process of unloading of trucks and then displaying goods before security staff, scanning through small machines and then again properly packing and loading was much time consuming.
The security men seized live rounds at least on three occasions at Poonch LoC point, SIM cards on number of occasions, a satellite phone once and 114 kg brown sugar worth over Rs 100 crores at Salamabad (Uri). It also led to the suspension of trade on both the sides, putting drivers/ operators besides traders in trouble for long. Not only this, in view of stand off between the two countries over the issue of this recovery, the bus service also remained suspended for several weeks.
It may be recalled that the concerned Deputy Commissioners had sent the proposals to the State Home department which forwarded it to the Union Home Ministry. State Chief Minister had also took the matter with the Defence Ministry and the Union Home Minister. Union Home Ministry discussed the proposal with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) which gave its clearance.
A senior officer in the Administrative Department of Industries told the Excelsior that the proposal had been sent to the Union Home Ministry by the State Government during 2011-12 but it is unfortunate that the same was still pending with them. This proposal was discussed at higher level to install two full body scanners one each at Salamabad in Uri and Chakkan-da-Bagh in Poonch. Reminders in this connection were also forwarded to the Union Home Ministry but there was no fresh communication from them in this regard for the last several months now. They are said to have purchased the scanners as well.
When asked was there really need of installing such full body scanners at LoC points under these circumstances, the officer said if full truck body scanners are installed at both the LoC points, several problems could be avoided. The truck with any such material will be detected immediately after crossing gate. Moreover, scrutinizing goods of each truck is time consuming exercise. Fool-proof security can be ensured with the installation of such gadgets there. He said there was urgent need of installing full body scanners at LoC points but Home Ministry was delaying the process.
He also disclosed that total 50 truck goods are entitled every day including 25 from the either side. The trade is allowed on four days per week, including Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. During one week 100 truck goods from Indian and the same number from Pakistan side is allowed. But the number of vehicles crossing have also been reduced as the tradable items have also come down. Only almonds, herbs, onions, bananas, dry dates, vegetables etc are being allowed for cross LoC trade by the Governments on both the sides. Due to reduction in the tradable items, the traders are showing less interest in the trade and moreover, it is not so profitable for them. There are several disputes and they remained unresolved for months together, causing financial losses to the traders.
Follow our WhatsApp channel