Kargil to get 2,000 bunkers

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 12: To protect civilian population from frequent heavy shelling by Pakistan, about 2,000 underground bunkers will be c...

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 12: To protect civilian population from frequent heavy shelling by Pakistan, about 2,000 underground bunkers will be constructed in Kargil town and nearby border villages by this month-end, official sources said on Sunday.

While 100 community bunkers would be constructed in Kargil town itself, about 1,000 would be built in border villages and over 20 for Government institutions, the sources said. The Planning Commission had in June approved the release of Rs four crore as special central assistance under the Border Area Development Programme for construction of bunkers during the 1999-2000 fiscal year.

About Rs 20,000 would be spent for building each family bunker, of which Rs 15,000 was being given to families and the remaining amount in form of corrugated sheets. The bunkers are part of a relief package for victims of border shelling in Jammu division, Kargil and Leh areas, which was approved by the Union Home Ministry and is currently being implemented.

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The package also includesfree ration of nine kgs of foodgrains per month per person of families displaced due to shelling, a cash assistance of Rs 200 per month, free kerosene, fodder and medical treatment.

The Centre till November had provided the J-K government an advance of Rs 17 crore, including Rs 15 crore from National Defence Fund. Following the meeting of Kargil NGOs Coordination Committee with Prime Minister Vajpayee last month, Prime Minister’s Office released another Rs 7.8 crore from the fund last week.

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