Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 1: In a major change in its strategy with regard to further strengthening of security apparatus along the International Border with Pakistan in Jammu, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to take up 15 villages out of total 118 on pilot basis for laying of three-tier network and directed the divisional administration to provide 135 feet corridor to the Border Security Force in these villages within a period of two months.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that Union Ministry of Home Affairs has decided not to go ahead with its earlier decision of taking up 135 feet wide corridor in all the 118 villages along the International Border in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts for laying of three-tier security network. It has now made up its mind to carry out this exercise in 15 border villages on pilot basis so as to minutely observe the reaction from across the border.
“This decision was recently conveyed to the State Home Department as well as divisional administration of Jammu with the direction to provide 135 feet corridor in these 15 villages, mostly in Kathua district within a period of two months so that Central Public Works Department (CPWD) begins creation of necessary infrastructure”, they said, adding that Principal Secretary, Home Department, Suresh Kumar few days back reviewed the progress in land acquisition and passed on necessary directions to the concerned authorities.
In response to a question, sources said, “there is every possibility of resistance from the Pakistan side over this move of the Union Home Ministry as after three-tier security network spread over an area of 135 feet wide corridor that too all along the International Border would ensure complete plugging of infiltration routes”.
“The reaction in 15 villages to be taken up on pilot basis would help the MHA in chalking out strategy for taking up work in all the 118 villages”, they further said, adding “even in 15 villages the Border Security Force will have to take extra precautionary measures in order to protect the workforce from any action from across the border”.
Besides taking some new measures as part of three-tier network the Border Security Force will also get height of the fencing increased, sources said while replying to another query. This 135 feet corridor will be put to use in such a way that even after crossing the fencing the infiltrators remain trapped in this corridor.
Notwithstanding change in the strategy of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the divisional administration has not slowed down the process of land acquisition in 118 villages. This is evident from the fact that almost all the formalities vis-à-vis land acquisition in respect of 90 villages have already been completed and within next two-three months the administration would transfer the land to the BSF.
“Even No Objection Certificates from the concerned MLAs and people have been obtained”, sources said, adding the 15 villages to be taken up initially are among these 90 villages.
About the remaining 28 villages, they said that necessary exercise was going on but No Objection Certificates from people as well as concerned MLAs have yet not been obtained.
Out of 118 villages where 135 feet wide corridor will be provided to the BSF, 72 fall in Jammu district, 17 in Kathua and 29 in Samba district. The total area, which will be handed over to BSF in these districts, is 8648 kilometers.
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