Nearly half of central funds for border bunkers in J&K lie unused, reveals RTI

 Jammu, 30/Jun/2025 , Published in The Hindu, Economic Times, Business Standard,Daily Excelsion, Greater Kashmir.

(PTI) The Jammu and Kashmir administration has not utilised nearly half of the central funds allocated for building underground bunkers for border residents over the last five years, according to information obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) application.

The revelation comes amid heightened calls for civilian safety, following last month's Operation Sindoor and the intense cross-border shelling.

Responding to the Right To Information application filed by Jammu-based activist Raman Kumar, the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department said, an amount of ₹242.77 crore was given to the Union Territory administration headed by the Lt Governor between 2020-21 and 2024-25. However, 46.58% of the money remains unspent.

It said Rajouri district accounted for the highest utilisation of funds to the tune of ₹78.05 crore followed by Poonch (₹44.56 crore), Samba (₹42.09 crore), Kathua (₹37.20 crore), Jammu (₹17.51 crore), Kupwara (₹14.85 crore), Bandipora (₹4.33 crore) and Baramulla (₹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.

The Centre initially sanctioned the construction of 14,460 individual and community bunkers for ₹415.73 crore for border residents facing Pakistani shelling along the LoC and the IB in 2018-19.

 

While 7,298 bunkers were sanctioned for the population along the LoC in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri, 7,162 underground bunkers got approved for villages along the IB in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts.

Later, the government sanctioned more than 4,000 bunkers to cover a more vulnerable population, including the areas falling in the north Kashmir districts of Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara.

According to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, so far, 9,500 bunkers have been set up along the India-Pakistan border in the Union Territory.

The bunkers proved to be a lifesaver for the border residents during the intense Pakistani shelling last month, minimising human loss, even as massive damage was caused to residential houses, besides the loss of livestock.

Sharing the reply of the Home Department with PTI here, Mr. Kumar expressed surprise over the non-utilisation of funds during the relatively peaceful years along the borders.

"Only 53.42% of the funds were utilised between 2020-21 and 2024-25," he said.

The Home Department said, "Total funds amounting to ₹24,277.85 lakh (₹242.778 crore) have been given by the government of India to the government of Jammu and Kashmir through the Finance Department, J&K during the financial year 2020-21 till date for construction of bunkers for civilians in border districts of Jammu and Kashmir." It said, an amount of ₹6,918.31 was released for 2020-21, ₹4,170 for 2021-22, ₹8,189.54 for 2022-23 and ₹2,500 each for 2023-24 and 2024-25.

However, the reply said that the J&K administration has only spent ₹12,967.869 lakh (₹129.678 crore) for the construction of bunkers for civilians -- ₹4,881.108 lakh in 2020-21, ₹3,318.548 lakh in 2021-22, ₹2,275.313 lakh in 2022-23, ₹846.64 lakh in 2023-24, and ₹1,646.26 lakh in 2024-25.

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 to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam attack that left 25 tourists and a local service provider dead.

Poonch and Rajouri accounted for most of the civilian casualties, prompting requests for the construction of more safety bunkers along the borders.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the shelling-hit areas in both Jammu and Kashmir divisions within two days after India and Pakistan reached an understanding to halt military actions with immediate effect on May 10. He asserted that his government will formulate a policy to build individual bunkers for the people.

"Community bunkers had been built, but they were not used for so long. No new bunker has come up in many years. Wherever I went, people said we should build individual bunkers," he said.

"The government will frame a policy on that, and a scheme will be formulated for the people in these areas which are closer to the LoC and the border, and that would then be taken up with the central government," he added.

He said the community bunkers are a lifeline during moments of crisis.

"We will ensure the construction of more such safer spaces to protect and support our people living in border areas," he said.

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" Matter of Oil Tanker Drivers Union Election is Sub Judice" , Says Raina

Oil Tanker Drivers Union Election to be Held as Per Court's Directions: Union President 

Jammu, 10 June 2025: The All Jammu and Kashmir Oil and LPG Tank Truck Drivers and Cleaners Union has clarified that the matter concerning its upcoming elections is currently under judicial consideration. In a press note issued today, Union President S. Ranjit Singh Raina stated that the incumbent office bearers of the union have no role in determining the date, process, or conduct of the elections. “It is now for the Hon’ble Court to decide,” he said, emphasizing that the matter is sub judice as stay has been issued by a local court of Jammu.

Raina further informed that some aggrieved members of the union had approached the Court of Law in Jammu. In response, the court has appointed a retired District and Sessions Judge to oversee and conduct the union's elections.

Raina also raised concerns over certain individuals who, allegedly impersonating union members and influenced by anti-social elements, have been staging protests outside oil depots. These actions, according to him, are attempts to block the supply of essential fuel and disturb law and order at the sensitive Narwal Depot, which falls under the jurisdiction of Police Post Narwal, Jammu.

“All bonafide members of the union have been made aware of the current legal status regarding the elections. Despite this, some elements continue to mislead and incite our members,” he said.

The Union President reiterated that the final decision regarding the conduct of the elections rests solely with the court. “We respect courts and judges and only the judiciary will now decide the future course of the Union elections,” he concluded.  

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तेल टैंकर ड्राइवर यूनियन का चुनाव अदालत के निर्देशानुसार होगा: यूनियन अध्यक्ष

 "मामला विचाराधीन है, अब चुनाव पर फैसला अदालत करेगी"           :  रणजीत सिंह रैना                                                                            

जम्मू, 10 जून 2025: ऑल जम्मू एंड कश्मीर ऑयल एंड एलपीजी टैंक ट्रक ड्राइवर्स एंड क्लीनर्स यूनियन ने स्पष्ट किया है कि यूनियन चुनाव से संबंधित मामला वर्तमान में न्यायालय के विचाराधीन है।

आज जारी एक प्रेस नोट में यूनियन के अध्यक्ष  सरदार रणजीत सिंह रैना ने कहा कि यूनियन के वर्तमान पदाधिकारियों की चुनाव की तिथि, प्रक्रिया या आयोजन में कोई भूमिका नहीं है। उन्होंने कहा, "अब यह मामला माननीय न्यायालय के अधिकार क्षेत्र में है," और बताया कि जम्मू की एक स्थानीय अदालत ने इस मामले में स्थगनादेश (स्टे) भी जारी किया है।

रैना ने जानकारी दी कि यूनियन के कुछ असंतुष्ट सदस्यों ने जम्मू की अदालत में याचिका दायर की थी। इसके बाद अदालत ने एक सेवानिवृत्त जिला एवं सत्र न्यायाधीश को यूनियन चुनाव की निगरानी और संचालन के लिए नियुक्त किया है।

उन्होंने यह भी आरोप लगाया कि कुछ लोग, जो कथित रूप से यूनियन सदस्य होने का नाटक कर रहे हैं और असामाजिक तत्वों के इशारे पर काम कर रहे हैं, तेल डिपो के बाहर प्रदर्शन कर रहे हैं। उनके अनुसार, ये लोग आवश्यक ईंधन की आपूर्ति बाधित करने और नरवाल डिपो जैसे संवेदनशील क्षेत्र, जो पुलिस पोस्ट नरवाल, जम्मू के अंतर्गत आता है, में कानून व्यवस्था बिगाड़ने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं।

रैना ने कहा, "यूनियन के सभी वास्तविक सदस्यों को चुनाव की कानूनी स्थिति की पूरी जानकारी दी जा चुकी है, इसके बावजूद कुछ तत्व उन्हें भड़काने और गुमराह करने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं।"

यूनियन अध्यक्ष ने दोहराया कि अब यूनियन चुनावों के आयोजन का अंतिम निर्णय केवल न्यायपालिका ही करेगी। "हम न्यायालयों और न्यायाधीशों का सम्मान करते हैं और अब केवल अदालत ही यूनियन चुनावों के भविष्य का निर्णय लेगी".  

  

Court Stays Oil Tanker Drivers’ Union Election

 Jammu, 03/June/2025: A local court in Jammu has put a stay on the elections of the All Jammu and Kashmir Oil and LPG Tank Truck Drivers’ Union.

The court in its order dated 02/June/2025 has also put on hold  election-related notices issued by the Returning Officer, Mr. M.R. Chak, a retired District and Sessions Judge.

One of the contesting candidates said the court has stayed the election notifications dated 24 April, 22 May and  31 May 2025, which had announced the schedule and process for the polls.

The Returning Officer has also been directed not to take any further steps until the next hearing.

Interestingly, the stay has come at a time when Advance Winter Stocking (AWS) for the Ladakh region is underway. This is a crucial period when essential fuel supplies are rushed to the Leh and Kargil region before winter sets in.

The contesting candidate said, holding elections now could have disrupted the AWS operations, as many tanker drivers would have been busy with the elections.    

The candidate confirmed the court’s order but did not disclose the name of the person who approached the court and assured as an when the signed copy of judgment is released from court, he would share even the name of the petitioner who had approached the court.   

More details are expected soon, and the matter is likely to remain in the spotlight in the coming days.