Jammu March 22 :- Jammu and Kashmir Border Area Development Conference (JKBADC), a registered volunteer organization working for the welfare of residents of borders areas of J & K union territory has stated that developmental needs of border areas are different from that of a city, town or a conventional Gram Panchayat therefore to cater the developmental requirements of border areas of Jammu and Kashmir there is an urgent need to establish and constitute a focal department like Border Areas Development Authority or board and in this focal authority the services of retired and serving officers of the armed forces including Indian Army, BSF, Border Roads Organization, Central Paramilitary Forces, J & K Police and other security experts be included so that infrastructure developed in the border areas remain strategic, intact and unaffected with the ordinary shelling from across the border.
Dr Shazad Malik, the former Vice Chancellor and Chairman of JK-BADC while addressing a gathering of people there in Panchayat Naka_Manjhari ( Lower) of border town Mendhar appealed the union Home Ministry and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to consider constituting a focal department for the overall development of Border areas of Jammu.
He said , the Civil engineering departments and district administration of border areas cannot take up the developmental works near the Line of Control, LoC and International Borders at their own due to security restrictions therefore it is imperative that government consider establishing such an exclusive authority for development of border areas. The villagers present in the program also appreciated the recommendation of the former VC and Chairman of BADC for constitution of such an exclusive authority for border areas.
