During Operation Sindoor, Pakistan army shelled the civilian populations along Line of Control in Rajouri, Poonch, Kupwara and Baramulla districts killing several civilians and destroying homes and hearths. Though both the governments, J&K and Union, have come forward to help the victims of Pak shelling, the most pressing issue still remains un-addressed and that is construction of individual as well as community bunkers.
In a shocking revelation, the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department, while responding to a application under Right to Information, has disclosed that 46.58 per cent money remains unspent from the total amount sanctioned for construction of bunkers along LoC and International Border. As per the details provided by the Home Department, an amount of Rs 242.77 crore was given to the Union Territory administration headed by the Lt Governor between 2020-21 and 2024-25. However, 46.58 per cent of the money remains unspent. It said Rajouri district accounted for the highest utilisation of funds to the tune of Rs 78.05 crore followed by Poonch (Rs 44.56 crore), Samba (Rs 42.09 crore), Kathua (37.20 crore), Jammu (17.51 crore), Kupwara (Rs 14.85 crore), Bandipora (Rs 4.33 crore) and Baramulla (Rs 4.15 crore).
India shares a 3,323-km border with Pakistan, of which 221 km of the International Border (IB) and 744 km of the Line of Control (LoC) fall in Jammu and Kashmir. Following Operation Sindoor and subsequent shelling by Pakistani troops on civilian population, the demand for construction of bunkers has grown. In the times of escalations, the residents of border areas and those living along LoC become the first targets. Lives are lost and properties destroyed. In such circumstances, the bunker is the only life line that can save these vulnerable population.
It may be recalle that a total of 27 people, mostly civilians, lost their lives and 70 were injured in intense Pakistani shelling and drone attacks on forward villages in Jammu and Kashmir after Indian armed forces launched missile strikes on terror infrastructure across the border during the intervening night of May 6 and 7 under Operation Sindoor. Poonch and Rajouri accounted for most of the civilian casualties, prompting requests for the construction of more safety bunkers along the borders.
The government of the day should ensure that bunkers in these vulnerable areas are constructed without any further delay and those responsible for the task should be questioned for under-utilization of funds. These areas are country’s first defence line and people living here should not be left unprotected.