Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday inaugurated the first phase of hi-tech ‘smart fencing’ of a 11 km stretch on the International Border (IB) in Jammu.
The Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) would provide for round-the-clock laser-guided surveillance of the borders, he said at the BSF Headquarters in Jammu’s Ploura. Mr. Singh said border security was his top most priority.
“The smart fencing project will initially be implemented to cover gaps in the physical fencing. Eventually, this technology will be implemented across the entire border,” he said.
The smart fencing is a web of surveillance, communication and data storage devices. It will enable surveillance during difficult weather conditions and reduce the need for physical patrolling of the borders. It will rely on thermal imaging, infra-red and laser-based intruder alarms to stop infiltration.
A total of 2,026 km border was vulnerable.“Digital fencing will make it virtually impossible for terrorists to infiltrate,” he said.
The Minister stressed the need to upgrade the border infrastructure. “More than 600 km of roads have been built in border areas and hundreds of border outposts have been built already,” he said.
The Home Minister also reviewed the situation along the IB with the top brass of the BSF.
Civic body polls
Mr. Singh appealed to political parties to participate in the upcoming civic bodies elections, even as the CPI(M) too joined the National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in boycotting the polls.
Both the NC and the PDP have decided to boycott the urban local bodies and panchayat polls, accusing the Centre of mixing the issue of Article 35A, the State subject law that is being heard by the Supreme Court (SC), with the polls and fuelling apprehensions among the people.
The CPI(M) has said the decision to go ahead with the elections despite opposition from the majority of the mainstream political parties “shows the arrogance of the Centre.”
“It was wrong on the part of the Government to use polls as a reason to seek deferment of Article 35A in the SC. It would have been better for the Centre to assure the people of J&K that it was serious about defending Article 35A. Participation of the people in these polls is doubtful. Our party has decided not to participate,” said a CPI(M) spokesman.
