Jammu: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Saturday said that two Army Brigades and a mobile network in remote areas of the Billawar region have been established, which would not only provide security to the local people but also ensure surveillance through mobile connectivity and ease of communication in far-flung areas.
Speaking during a Public Durbar at Billawar in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Singh informed that one Armed Brigade had already been established at Sarthal and now another similar Armed Brigade has been set up in Rampur township of Billawar.
“This will not only provide round the clock army surveillance in the area but the Army personnel will also maintain regular liaison with the civil administration with the concerned Brigadier and the DM constantly being in touch with each other,” he said.
As for the Mobile network, Dr Singh said, the far-flung areas, particularly areas beyond Lowang in the Bani area, were deprived of connectivity ever since independence and only yesterday evening, the first mobile phone call was made after the installation of the Mobile Tower and mobile network.
“This has not only come as a huge facility for the local residents including particularly students and youth, but this will also enable the armed forces to maintain round the clock real time surveillance,” he said.
All these measures, taken as a result of the personal follow up on a day to day basis by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have instilled a lot of confidence and sense of security among the local people, he added.
Dr. Singh further informed that the long pending demand of the widening of the Dhar Road has been taken up with impetus received from the Home and Defence Ministries in the wake of the recent armed conflict and very soon the BRO will hand over this road to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for widening.
Dr Singh recalled that in the last summer, the main demand from this region was regarding the shortage of drinking water.
He informed that this too has also been taken care of with 55 Jal Jiwan Mission (JJM) schemes approved for the region of which nearly 70 percent work has been completed at a cost of Rs. 131.55 Crore.
This, he said, has ensured drinking water supply to 14875 households.
Under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme, the Minister informed that another 1250 households in the Billawar town will be given the facility of drinking water supply at a cost of Rs.11.03 Crore.
Dr. Singh informed that he has suggested a proposal for a Master Plan for Sukrala Mata which can be taken up at its next Board meeting.This could enable this entire area to attract a new genre of tourists like Mussoorie etc.
He recalled his recent visit to the International border and said that nearly 2500 Family Bunkers constructed along the Hiranagar sector over the last seven years have been found highly convenient and received appreciation from the local people that now demands are received from other areas including the LoC for construction of similar family bunkers.
He said, this could be accomplished because we had taken up the task of planning and constructing such family bunkers for nearly 10 years and we went ahead in a very meticulous manner.
As a result, today, he said, these Family bunkers in the Hiranagar sector have emerged as a role model for the country to build bunkers elsewhere along the border.
Later, Dr Singh held a Public Durbar, which lasted for nearly two hours. During his interaction, the Minister gave a patient hearing to individuals and sought to dispose of their grievances and demands on the spot by issuing the required instructions to the administration.
UNI
