Madhukar Gupta Committee on India-Pakistan border submits report
A high powered committee of the National
Security Council, headed by former home secretary Madhukar Gupta, recently
presented its report on India-Pakistan border to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had constituted
a committee under the chairmanship of former home secretary Madhukar Gupta in
April 2016, for strengthening border protection
and addressing the issue of gaps and vulnerability in border fencing along the
India-Pakistan border.
- The mandate of the committee was to study all types of gaps in fencing and all other vulnerabilities in the International Border and to suggest comprehensive approach to fix these gaps in fencing and other vulnerabilities on interim and permanent basis.
Important recommendations made by the
committee:
- Use scientific technology such as laser fencing along with increased vigil along riverine border areas.
- Where physical fencing is not feasible due to difficult terrain, use ground sensors and thermal imaging.
The committee has given separate
recommendations for four states which touch the international border with
Pakistan as each state has separate topography and problems. Of the 3,323 km
long Indo-Pak border, 1,225 kms falls in Jammu and Kashmir (including Line of
Control), 553 kms in Punjab, 1,037 kms in Rajasthan and 508 kms in Gujarat.
