Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 25: As trials on ‘smart fencing’ being constructed on the Line of Control (LoC) as well as International Border (IB) have been successful, Army and BSF were likely to start construction work on new model of fencing to prevent infiltration attempts by the start of next year.
Official sources told the Excelsior that both Army and BSF, who man the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir have conducted trials for ‘smart fencing’ at five kilometers stretch each on LoC and IB.
“The trials were successful and hopefully work on the ‘smart fencing’ will start very soon,’’ sources said, adding that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) have kept April 2016 as deadline for start of the work when weather will open up and so will be the snow filled passes that would facilitate construction work smoothly.
Asserting that new fencing will be ‘very effective’ as compared to the existing one, sources said the militants would find it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to breach it. The ‘smart fencing’ has several hi-tech gadgets to prevent infiltration attempts and alert the troops on duty if the militants sneaked through.
Initially, according to sources, the ‘smart fencing’ will be constructed in vulnerable areas like Tangdhar, Keran and Gurez in Kashmir Valley, Mendhar in Poonch and stretch of IB in Jammu sector. However, gradually the entire LoC and IB in Jammu sector will be covered by the ‘smart fencing’.
Sources said the security agencies have conducted trial on five kilometers stretch of LoC and IB for the ‘smart fencing’ and it was successful. The ‘smart fencing’ has yielded the desired results and work on vulnerable sections of LoC and IB would start, most likely in April next year.
“The ground work has been done for construction of ‘smart fencing’ and the work was expected to start in April next year when the weather will be good for the construction purposes on conclusion of harsh winter. Snow in the upper reaches would also start melting in May.
Sources said the MoD and MHA had approved ‘smart fencing’ after it was proposed by Army and BSF following breach of existing fence at various places by the militants for successful infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir. After several trials, the engineers had developed the ‘smart fencing’ and it would have very hi-tech systems to ensure that the militants didn’t manage to breach it.
Sources said Army and BSF have already identified ‘vulnerable areas’ along LoC and IB that required the ‘smart fencing’ immediately from where the work would start by April 2016.
Construction of ‘smart fencing’ in entire LoC and IB could take a time of four to five years, sources said, adding that the ‘smart fencing’ was going to prove very useful to the Army and BSF in curbing infiltration attempts by the militants.
Army Commanders and BSF officers have repeatedly pointed out that large number of militants have been camping across LoC and IB awaiting opportunity to sneak into Jammu and Kashmir to carry out terror strikes. However, alert Army and BSF personnel have not allowed the militants to infiltrate barring few exceptions on the LoC in Kupwara sector.
The entire project for construction of ‘smart fencing’ will be funded by the Ministries of MoD and MHA, sources said, adding total cost of the project is being worked out as the Government proposed to complete the project in phases, starting from the vulnerable areas along LoC and IB.
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