Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 4: Union Home Ministry’s plan of strengthening security apparatus all along the International Border with hostile neighbor Pakistan is moving at a snail’s pace as funds for acquisition of 135 feet corridor have yet not been placed at the disposal of the Deputy Commissioners of Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts. This is notwithstanding the fact that revenue papers preparation exercise has been completed in majority of the villages situated along the border.
Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR that in order to further fortify the International Border with Pakistan in Jammu, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, more than three years back, had taken a decision to acquire 135 feet corridor for laying of three tier security network. Accordingly, the matter was discussed with the State Government and thereafter the Jammu divisional administration was directed to start the exercise for preparation of revenue papers.
A total of 118 villages along the International Border from Hiranagar in Kathua district to Akhnoor in Jammu district were identified by carrying out detailed exercise for providing 135 feet wide corridor to the Border Security Force for putting in place additional security system. Of these villages, 72 fall in Jammu district, 17 in Kathua and 29 in Samba district. Total area required to be handed over to the border guards in these villages was worked out at 8648 kilometers.
Despite numerous hurdles and cumbersome process involving securing of No Objection Certificates from the MLAs of the concerned areas, the district administration of Jammu, Samba and Kathua got revenue papers of these 118 villages prepared during these three years, sources said while disclosing that barring few villages the exercise in respect of majority of the villages presently stands completed.
In the recent past, the Principal Secretary Home Department attended some meetings in the Ministry of Home Affairs and updated the concerned officers about the progress made in preparation of necessary revenue papers by the civil administration in all the three districts, they informed. In the last meeting, it was assured that funds for acquisition of land would be released shortly and the same was even conveyed to the Deputy Commissioners of Jammu, Samba and Kathua.
However, till date funds have not been kept at the disposal of the concerned Deputy Commissioners so that disbursal of money to the land owners could begin, sources regretted. “Keeping in view several years long continuous resentment among the border dwellers it is not possible to convince them to give more land for transfer to Border Security Force under new plan of the Ministry of Home Affairs till placement of required funds at the disposal of administration”, they added.
It is pertinent to mention here that border dwellers whose land had been acquired during fencing of International Border have yet not been paid rent or compensation. “Since 44 feet corridor, which was transferred to the BSF during fencing, would be included in the proposed 135 feet corridor, the border dwellers, who had suffered earlier, are hopeful of getting justice this time”, sources said.
They said that following release of funds projected by the Deputy Commissioners for disbursal of compensation, the civil administration would acquire the land from the civilians and then formally transfer the same to the Border Security Force for raising of additional infrastructure as per the plans of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
“Any further progress would become possible only when funds are placed at the disposal of the Deputy Commissioners”, sources said, adding “even after disbursal of compensation minimum six months would be required for physical transfer of land to the BSF and in such a situation no time-frame can be specified about MHA’s plan assuming practical shape”.
According to the sources, the plan of the MHA would go a long way in checking infiltration from across the border and reducing visibility from across the border. Moreover, following implementation of this plan at least firing from across the border would not have any impact on the civilian population.
When contacted, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Shantmanu said, “since land acquisition related exercise has almost been completed in all the three districts the Home Department would be requested to take up the issue with the Ministry of Home Affairs so that funds are released as early as possible and further exercise is initiated”.
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