Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, July 3: Though top hierarchy of Union Home and Defence Ministry had arrived at near consensus on the proposal of erecting an all-weather fence along the Line of Control (LoC), the duos have failed to implement the decision on ground.
Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR, “the proposal for erecting such fence along the LoC that can withstand the harshest snow conditions was mooted around two years back and the objective was to obtain nearly zero-level infiltration, which is imperative to curtail militancy in the border State”.
“Even the Prime Minister Office (PMO) officials during the tenure of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) had put their weight behind the important proposal and expressed keenness in early implementation of the decision. But, the proposal seems to have died its own death after shuttling between the two important Ministries”, sources asserted.
Sources elaborated, “more than two years after the proposal was formulated in consultation with top officials of the State Government, there is no word from the Central Government. With change of guard at the Centre, security analysis hoped that steps would be initiated to ensure its early implementation, which would help to curtail the cross-border infiltration”.
Official sources remarked that the two years back, when the proposal was first mooted as part of Border Management Program, had full backing of the top brass of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). “The officials were well aware of the fact that an all-weather fence would help the State achieve nearly zero-level infiltration, which is imperative to curtail the terrorist violence in the border State”, sources added.
Sources said, “though Ministry of Defence officials had earlier expressed some reservations about the proposal, after threadbare discussions with their counterparts in MHA, the latter have also given their consent for the proposal in view of the fact that 90 per cent of militancy is coming from across the border”.
“The issue of fence is one of the measures, which had been thoroughly discussed by the incumbents of Union Government and the State Government in several meetings. The proposal had also been taken up with former Union Home Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde during his visit to the Kashmir Valley in October 2012”, sources asserted.
“The fence has become a virtual necessity if we want to maintain peace on permanent basis in the State. Moreover, another important factor in that after the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in 2014, more vigorous efforts are likely to be made from Western border to push terrorists”, sources said.
“While the local militants are subdued due to pressure of security forces, repeated attempts are made from the other side to push foreign militants”, sources added.
Sources stated that the Union Home Ministry officials had also sent a team of experts comprising civil engineers from reputed institutions to the LoC to carry out a detailed feasibility study of erecting a permanent fence. The team of experts comprising officials from Indian Meteorological Department also identified highly valance prone areas after taking into account average snowfall of the last one decade.
“As per the plan, during the first phase, the Centre plans to seal nearly 40 routes, which are traditionally being used by terrorists to infiltrate the Valley and these are mainly in North Kashmir areas like Kupwara, Gurez, Uri and Keran and Doda district in Jammu region”, sources said. The proposal was also discussed with the then Union Home Secretary, R K Singh during his visit to Kashmir on August 26, 2012. Singh, along with the then Director General of Police and Army officers, had visited Cheema Post in Gulmarg sector of North Kashmir.
The Home Secretary was given an extensive presentation during his visit for having a permanent fence, which could withstand all weather conditions. Singh was also shown the pillars along the famous Gandola cable car, which can withstand all weather conditions and opinion was given to have a similar mechanism along the LoC.
“Even as far as the financial implications of the project are concerned, the cost of erection of such an all-weather fence would be around Rs 2500 crores. But, spread over a span on four years, it would cost Rs 800 crores per annum”, sources said adding, “from long-term perspective, the fence would be of immense benefit for the border state and help in virtually reducing the infiltration from Pakistan’s side to almost zero level”.
Out of 740 Km long stretch of LoC, India has built fence along 550 Km, work on which was completed in 2004.
However, due to repeated damage to fence by heavy snow, terrorists from across the border used to take advantage and infiltrate into the Valley. Every year nearly 83 Km of the fencing along the LoC especially in North Kashmir’s Gurez, Karnah, Kupwara and Gulmarg sectors is damaged, which allows militants to infiltrate into the Kashmir Valley and other parts of the State.
However, another important issue is that fencing on LoC would be technically difficult as some areas falling on the zero line could be separated. The agricultural activities of people in those areas, where they fall on the other side would need to be given due consideration under the program.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel