Will work out mechanism to address your issues: CM to border dwellers

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti handing over cash relief to border shelling victim’s kin in Poonch on Monday.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti handing over cash relief to border shelling victim’s kin in Poonch on Monday.

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 5: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today assured the dwellers of Line of Control (LoC) that the Government was aware of their problems especially in the context of studies of the children, crops, safety etc due to constant mortar shelling and firing by the Pakistani troops and that it would work out a mechanism to ensure that their life remains on track.
Around 80 delegations called on Mehbooba during her ‘Public Outreach Programme’ in the border district of Poonch that continued till late tonight. Among the delegations, a good number of them hailed from the areas falling along LoC in Poonch, Mendhar, Balakote, Shahpur, Mankote etc.
After meeting the Chief Minister, representatives of the delegations of LoC dwellers told the Excelsior that Mehbooba was very positive towards their demands and assured them that the Government would take all possible measures to ensure that their livelihood and studies of their children are not hit badly.
“The Government will work out a mechanism to help the border dwellers as there was no let-up in cross-border shelling,’’ she assured the people, who had come in large numbers from several forward areas along with charter of their demands.
Some of the border dwellers said that shelling has become a routine affair on the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts for the past about 10 months, which often leads to closure of educational institutions falling within shelling and firing range, thus, affecting studies of the children and failure of crops as the people were unable to work in the fields.
The border people said the Chief Minister assured them that the Government was seized of their all problems and would try to work out solution to them so that they are able to run their normal life and studies of the children are not badly hit.
Recently, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had approved construction of bunkers, both individual and community, for the people living within shelling and firing range of Pakistan in five districts of Jammu region including Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu, Samba and Kathua. The MHA had approved Rs 413.5 crore for the purpose and promised construction of more bunkers once the Phase-I was completed.
Some people on the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts have their own bunkers while civil administration has also constructed some bunkers from the local funds.
Mehbooba also distributed cash relief among the kin of nine persons, who were killed during ongoing border shelling and firing by Pakistani troops in Poonch district. The border firing victims hailed from forward areas of Balakote, Haveli and Mendhar.
Kin of the victims were given Rs 5 lakh each.
Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Rohit Kansal, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Hemant Sharma, IGP Jammu Dr SD Singh Jamwal and Deputy Commissioner, Poonch Tariq Ahmad Zargar were also present on the occasion.
Recently, the MHA had increased compensation for border firing victims from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.  The MHA would reimburse entire amount incurred on cross-border shelling and firing victims to the State Government under Security Related Expenditure (SRE).
Sources said a number of delegations from the forward villages of Poonch district, which met the Chief Minister at Dal Bungalow, Poonch wanted permanent solution to border shelling and firing as they were of the view that this has very badly affected their normal life.
They added that they want an end to this regular shelling and lead peaceful life.
During her ‘Public Outreach Programme’ in Rajouri district few days back, the Chief Minister had also come across the delegations drawn from forward areas of the district, who wanted that their issues pertaining to cross-border shelling and firing should be addressed.
An official handout said:- The demands put forth by the deputations during the day long public outreach programme included start of work on the proposed tunnel on Mughal Road which they described the gift of 21st century to people of Pir Panchal region. Other general demands put forth included bringing Poonch and adjoining areas on the tourist map of the State, establishment of a Trauma hospital facility on Peer ki Gali-Rajouri stretch of Mughal Road, individual and community bunkers to save them from cross border shelling, timely execution of projects to improve the power distribution system in the district and pacing up of other developmental works in the district.
Several deputations from Balakote demanded upgradation of High school Behrooti to Higher Secondary School, improvement of Brati Brani Gali road, reorganisation of Balakote tehsil, construction of Suian Katta to Sandote road and construction of bridge at Zinda Peer. They also demanded upgradation and stabilisation of power and drinking water distribution in the area and development of Behrote, Sandote and Basooni roads.
The Chief Minister directed immediate examination and evaluation of the demands putforth. Besides, she also directed construction of a community hall, with all facilities, in the area.
Deputations from various areas of Surankote demanded taking up of flood protection works in the area, construction of administrative complex in Surankote, model villages for Bafliaz and Surankote, playground at Charala, upgradation of schools at Chandimarg and Sailan and roads from Sailan to Mahra and Behramgalla to Manai.
Deputations from Mendhar sought upgradation of various schools, early completion of Sangiote Galli to Turrian road and establishment of transformer workshop in the area and hostel in the local college. They also demanded early completion of Harni (BG) and other PMGSY roads, setting up of an ITI and upgradation of local receiving station. They sought carving out of sessions court at and Additional Deputy Commissioner’s post for Mendhar.
The Chief Minister directed immediate provision of street lights for the Poonch, Mendhar and Surankote towns.
A deputation from Mankote sought augmentation of drinking water facilities in Kasbalari, Salani, Nabna, upgradation of High School, Kasbalari to Higher Secondary School.
A deputation of members of civil society Mandi thanked the Chief Minister for many of historic steps during her rule so far. Demands of a women’s degree college, augmentation of power distribution system and completion of work on Tehsil complex Mandi were also putforth by the deputation.
Several deputations of women sought establishment of a women’s Police station at Poonch, new Anganwari centres, recruitment of more women in Police, establishment of job oriented courses and skill centres, establishment of orphanages and women centres in the district,   streamlining of old age pension scheme and availability of drinking water supply.
The Chief Minister assured the deputation to look into their demands.
Many other deputations from other areas of the district including Khanetar, Haveli also met the Chief Minister and apprised her of their problems.
Mehbooba listened to the demands of the deputations throughout the day and it continued till late in the night. In many cases the Chief Minister gave on spot directions for the redressal of the grievances which was hailed by the deputationists.

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