Neeraj Rohmetra
Jammu, May 5: Proposal for erection of a new all-weather fence to curb infiltration along the Line of Control (Loc) with Pakistan that can withstand the harshest snow conditions, is awaiting approval from the office of Prime Minister’s Office.
Sources said, “though the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is in favour of the proposal, it is yet to put its official seal on the same”.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that the proposal had been supported by the top brass of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as part of its Border Management Program. “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 last year”, 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.
The proposal, which is brain child of Director General of Police, Ashok Prasad had been discussed thoroughly with several officials of the Home Ministry during their visit to the State during the past two years.
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 into 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 Union Home Secretary, R K Singh during his visit to Kashmir on August 26, 2012. Singh, along with Director General of Police, Ashok Prasad 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 crore. But, spread over a span on four years, it would cost Rs 800 crore 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.
Besides, 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 progamme.
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