Authorities finalise plan for construction of bunkers

The plan for construction of 1320 individual and 688 community bunkers along the Line of Control (LoC) for the safety of border residents in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir were finalised today, an official said.

District Development Commissioner, Poonch, Mohammad Aijaz Asad finalised the plan at an official meeting, directing revenue officers to identify suitable land, hand over the same to executing agencies and complete the process within a week's time, an official spokesman said.

A team headed by Assistant Commissioner, Revenue, with Sub-divisional Police Officers concerned, tehsildars and other officials was constituted to complete the exercise of hand over of land in shortest possible time, he said.

The project is targeted to be completed during the current financial year, the spokesman said.

Addressing the meeting, Asad said 688 community bunkers and 1320 individual bunkers would be constructed in villages located in 0-3 KM distance from LoC for accommodation of people during ceasefire violation induced migration and emergency evacuation.

The bunkers will be constructed at various border locations in Balakote, Mankote, Haveli, Mandi and Mendhar, he said.

He said the individual bunkers would be constructed for population residing in 0-3 KM range from LoC while community bunkers would be constructed in safer zones near schools, hospitals, police posts and places of religious gatherings to accommodate public during the ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

There have been several instances of heavy shelling and ceasefire violations along the LoC and international border in recent times.