NEW DELHI, Aug 26: In a bid to eliminate infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir, the Government is mulling erection of a new all-weather fence that can even withstand the harshest snow conditions along Line of Control – which divides the region between India and Pakistan.
This proposal was discussed during the visit of Union Home Secretary R K Singh, who returned on Saturday evening from his two-day visit to the Valley, sources in the ministry said.
Singh, along with Director General of police Ashok Prasad and army officers, visited Cheema Post in Gulmarg sector of North Kashmir.
Every year nearly 83 kilometres of 740 kilometres of the fencing along the LoC especially in North Kashmir’s Gurez, Karnah, Kupwara and Gulmarg sectors is damaged which, India says, is exploited by militants to infiltrate into the Kashmir Valley and other parts of the state.
The home secretary, according to the sources, was given an extensive presentation during his visit for having a permanent fence which could withstand all weather conditions, the sources said.
This, according to the sources, will bring down infiltration to zero as militants would not be able to take advantage of damaged fence to infiltrate into the Valley. 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, the sources said.
The home secretary, according to the sources, appreciated the idea and said that he would send a team of engineers for working on the feasibility report for the project even though the army showed some reservations about the same.
The sources said the army highlighted that in case of permanent fencing, some of the villages in North Kashmir would fall outside it, raising concern among the people but the civilian administration opined that a gate could be constructed at such places which would be exclusively open for the ingress and egress of the people of this area.
The proposal, according to the sources, was the brain child of Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Ashok Prasad. The army had earlier objected even to the fencing of border in early 2000 but had to fall in line after the then government gave a go ahead.
The sources said this would also lessen the recurring expenses on repair of the fencing every year after making a one time investment in erection of fence.
(PTI)
