NEW DELHI: Centre has approved a proposal worth Rs 21 crore to reconstruct and replace the fence and BSF border posts along Indo-Pak International Border which were damaged due to recent floods in Jammu and Kashmir.The sanction was granted by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh after he was apprised of the “large scale damage” to these assets at the International Border (IB) along this frontier during his recent visit to the Forces’ Headquarters here, officials said.”The sanction worth Rs 21 crore has been accorded to the Border Security Force. The force has already begun putting in place the damaged systems and resurrecting defence mechanism along this frontier,” officials said.At a number of places along this frontier, they said, the fencing and border posts along the riverine areas had been affected by the flood waters which had wreaked one the worst natural disasters in the State.The BSF, during the Home Minister’s visit to its Headquarters, had briefed Singh that there has been extensive damage to over 30 of its border posts but “backup” locations have been made by the force to check infiltration along this frontier.Officials said the Home Minister took the issue as an important subject and hence the sanctions have come promptly.Singh had then said that “the government will leave no stone unturned to safeguard our borders and address all important issues related to border security.”He had told the BSF brass that “security is the first and foremost requirement for development and therefore our borders should always be safe and secure” as he urged them to ensure no let down in security despite the problems that have erupted after the floods. PTI
