Sanjha Morcha

Civil-military meet: Security of airfields, ammo depots taken up

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 2

In the backdrop of heightened tension between India and Pakistan and recent terror attacks in the region, the topic of security of airfields and ammunition depots in the state featured prominently in the annual civil-military liaison conference (CMLC) of the state government and the Western Command here today.Sources said the prime concern was large-scale unauthorised constructions adjoining the perimeter of sensitive installations, which not only posed a security threat for these but also raised the issue of the safety of the civilian population residing in the vicinity.“Some specific observations in this regard concerning ammunition depots near Bathinda, Ludhiana, Dappar and Pathankot were made and these will be pursued at appropriate levels further. Safety and security issues pertaining to airfields as well as some civilian airports, including those at Amritsar and Chandigarh, were also discussed,” an official said.Illegal constructions and encroachment around military installations has been a long-standing issue and the issue has also been dragged into courts, where some cases are pending. The issue has cropped up repeatedly during CMLCs. The meet today was conducted by Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Jagpal Singh Sandhu and Chief of Staff, Western Command, Lt Gen IS Ghuman. The Chief Minister, who traditionally presides over the CMLC, was not present as his helicopter could not take off from Amritsar due to bad weather.Sources said the Army had also raised the issue of damage being caused to the ditch-cum-bunds (DCBs) along the Indo-Pakistan border due to agricultural activities and sand mining. The state government was asked to undertake repairs of the DCBs that stretch over several kilometers and are designed to check enemy advances by flooding the ditches.The Army has sought allocation of about 23 acres of land in Nangal from the state government to meet its administrative requirements. It also pointed out that it is unable to carry out construction for the Services Selection Board at Rupnagar, which at present is running from an interim location at Kapurthala, due to recurring flooding of the site.In addition, the Army also wants to set up Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme polyclinics in four non-military stations in Punjab. While the state government has agreed to provide government land, where available, for the polyclinics, it will facilitate the Army in procuring land at other places.Filling up vacancies in the state government earmarked for ex-servicemen, welfare schemes and financial assistance to veterans and widows were among the other items of the 18-point agenda.

Other issues

  • Illegal constructions and encroachment around military installations
  • Damage being caused to the ditch-cum-bunds along the Indo-Pakistan border
  • Land sought by the Army in Nangal
  • Setting up of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme polyclinics
  • Filling up of vacancies in the state government earmarked for ex-servicemen