5,500 BUNKERS TO BE MADE FOR SAFETY AGAINST SHELLING: GOVT
in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir have initiated the process of constructing over 5,500 underground bunkers and 200 community halls as well as ‘border bhawans’ to help border dwellers facing the brunt of Pakistani shelling and firing.
The project, targeted to be completed in this financial year at a cost of ~153.60 crore, has been approved by the state government and the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA), an official spokesperson said on Sunday.
He said district development commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary reviewed arrangements for initiating construction of family bunkers, community bunkers, community halls and border bhawans to facilitate safety of border residents during ceasefire violations.
“A total of 5,196 bunkers are being constructed in seven blocks along the 120km-long stretch of LoC. These include Sunderbani, Qila Drahal, Nowshera, Doongi, Rajouri, Panjgrain and Manajakote,” the spokesperson said.
He said over 260 community bunkers and 160 community halls would also be constructed in villages within 0-3km from the LoC.
He said the tendering process designed for construction of bunkers as block level projects as per MHA guidelines would start within one week and the process will be completed within a month which will be followed by construction of bunkers, shelters and community halls.
Every family in 0-3km range from LoC would be provided one bunker during Phase-I of the project while community bunkers and halls will be constructed near schools, hospitals, police stations, police posts, government buildings and panchayat ghars. The spokesperson said that revenue officials have been directed to hand over land to executing agencies indicating area and Khasra number as well as entry in revenue records while tenders would be put in public domain within one week.
Joint teams of revenue, rural development department, police and public works department would conduct inspection, physical verification and monitor with active cooperation from border guarding forces, he said, adding that all the assets will be geotagged and monitored online at the district and state level.
JAMMU:Authorities