Home Minister visits Kutch, promises concrete roads

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on March 25 visited a marshy region, near the disputed Sir Creek, in Kutch and announced that approval for building a concrete road in the region would be given in a week’s time. Lauding the role of BSF personnel in guarding this difficult terrain, which is prone to infiltration from Pakistan, Shinde assured them that approval for building a concrete road right upto the bank of Harami Nala would be granted in a week’s time.

Shinde said at Lakhpat that approval for a concrete road right up to 1170 pillar outpost will be given by the government within a week’s time. Presently, manning the region is posing a big challenge to the security forces who have to deploy all terrain vehicles (ATV) for their movement. He also announced that a Border Out Post (BOP) will come up near the bank of Harami Nala to intensify vigil around the porous marshy region.

Harami Nala is a marshy, sluggish and shallow water channel, spread over 500 sq km on the India-Pakistan border which has witnessed many intrusions from Pakistan. The marshy topography makes it difficult for troops to react swiftly in case of infiltration and presently they have to use All Terrain Vehicles to keep a vigil.