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

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has not utilized 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.

- Press Trust of India

JAMMU:

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

Responding to the RTI 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 lieutenant governor between 2020-21 and 2024-25. However, 46.58% of the money remains unspent.

It said Rajouri district accounted for the highest utilization 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).

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.