Measures provide Army surveillance, sense of security to locals
Nishikant Khajuria
BILLAWAR, May 24 : In significant security developments, two Army Brigades and mobile phone network have been established in remote areas of Billawar region in Kathua district, which recently witnessed spike in terror incidents.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
The measures not only provide security to the local people but also ensure Army surveillance through mobile connectivity and ease of communication in far-flung areas.
The measures were disclosed here today by the Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh during a public darbar held by him.
“One Armed Brigade was already established at Sarthal and now another similar Armed Brigade has been set up in Rampur township of Billawar,” he said.
“This will not only provide round the clock military surveillance in the area but the Army personnel will also maintain regular liaison with the civil administration with the concerned Brigadier and the District Magistrate constantly being in touch with each other,” he added.
Regarding the mobile phone network, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the far-flung pockets, particularly areas beyond Lowang in the Bani, were deprived of connectivity ever since independence and only yesterday evening, the first mobile phone call was made after the installation of the mobile tower and mobile network.
“This has not only come as a huge facility for the local residents, particularly students and youth, but this will also enable the armed forces to maintain round the clock real time surveillance,” he said.
Pertinent to mention that the Kathua district, particularly Billwar and Bani areas have seen a spike in terror incidents in recent months, prompting authorities to take aggressive action. Last year there was terror attack on Army convoy in Machedi area of Billwar, in which four soldiers attained martyrdom while six others were injured. In a subsequent operation, security forces had gunned down three foreign terrorists affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammad. In two other incidents, five civilians were recently found dead under mysterious circumstances in remote areas of Billawar and the locals alleged that these were also terror acts.
The Union Minister said that establishment of Army Brigades and other security measures have been taken as a result of the personal follow up on a day to day basis by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the same have instilled a lot of confidence and sense of security among the local people.
Dr Jitendra Singh further informed that the long pending demand of the widening of the Dhar Road has been taken up with impetus received from the Home and Defence Ministries in the wake of the recent armed conflict and very soon the BRO will hand over this road to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for widening.
Recalling that in the last summer, the main demand from this region was regarding the shortage of drinking water, Dr Jitendra Singh informed that this too has also been taken care of with 55 Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) schemes approved for region of which nearly 70 percent work has been completed at a cost of Rs 131.55 crore. This, he said, has ensured drinking water supply to 14875 households.
Under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme, the Minister informed that another 1250 households in the Billawar town will be given the facility of drinking water supply at a cost of Rs 11.03 crore.
Dr Jitendra Singh further informed that he has suggested a proposal for a Master Plan for Sukrala Mata which can be taken up at its next Board meeting. This could enable this entire area to attract a new genre of tourists like Mussoorie etc, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh recalled his recent visit to International Border and said, that nearly 2500 family bunkers constructed along the Hiranagar sector over the last seven years have been found highly convenient and received appreciation from the local people while demands are now received from other areas including the LoC for construction of similar family bunkers. “This could be accomplished because we had taken up the task of planning and constructing such family bunkers for nearly 10 years and we went ahead in a very meticulous manner,” he added. As a result, today, he said, these family bunkers in the Hiranagar sector have emerged as a role model for the country to build bunkers elsewhere along the border.
Dr Jitendra Singh held the public darbar, which lasted for nearly two hours. During his interaction, the Minister gave a patient hearing to individuals and sought to dispose of their grievances and demands on the spot by issuing the required instructions to the administration.
The public darbar was attended by senior officers of the district administration with representatives from all the Engineering wings and Health Department, in the presence of elected representatives including MLA Satish Sharma, DDC Chairman Col Mahan Singh, DDC Members Vikram Singh, Narayan Dutt Tripathi and Neeru Rajput, former Municipal Chairman Basotra, BJP District president Gopal Krishan, Amrik Singh, Romi Khajuria, all the Panches, Sarpanches and former DDCs.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
