Over 20,000 bunkers to be built for border residents in J&K

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed on Wednesday said that over 20,000 concrete bunkers would be built along the LoC and IB for the safety of residents living in border areas in Jammu region.

"A proposal has been submitted to the union ministry of home affairs for the construction of 20,125 community-type bunkers at various places along the Line of Control (LoC)/International Border (IB) in Jammu division for people living near the border," Sayeed, who also holds the home portfolio, said in a written reply on Wednesday.

The bunkers would cost over Rs 1,000 crore.

"The government of India has sanctioned Rs 3 crore for the construction of bunkers on a pilot basis," he said.

He informed the state assembly that 48 people, including 28 civilians and 20 security personnel, were killed during ceasefire violations by Pakistan in Jammu along the LoC and IB from 2012 up to September 30, 2015.

The highest number of 14 civilian casualties were recorded this year.

"Nearly 193 houses have suffered damage due to border firing/shelling on the LoC and IB in Jammu during the last four years," Sayeed said.

Over Rs.56 lakh were provided as ex gratia to the next of kin of those who died or were injured in border firing.

In militancy-related incidents, 30 people, including 13 civilians and 17 security men, lost their lives in Jammu division since 2012.