Saturday, September 3, 2011

BSF enforces water wing for safeguarding borders

FAZILKA: 3.09.11-Flooding of border villages, situated along the Satluj embankment area has damaged barbed fencing along the international Indo-Pak border and to thwart any intrusion bid through the river water,BSF has enforced its water wing to keep round-the-clock patrolling in the river running along the border in Fazilka sector. The water wing consists fiber motor boats loaded with floodlights installed on them, weapons and other necessary equipment needed for patrolling.The headquarters of Punjab frontier has also increased the number of BSF personnel in the Fazilka sector. 

"Boat nakas have been laid at strategic points. Also, more temporary observation posts have been set up to check intrusion as the water has spread to some fields along the international border," said Vimal Satyarthi, DIG, BSF. Due to heavy rains in the catchment areas and release of excessive water from the Bhakra Nangal dam into the Satluj, it has remained swollen for most of the time during the monsoon and flooded the fencing in various pockets of the border belt. 

Even in certain pockets, floodwater made the Indo-Pak Zero Line disappear in the Fazilka district. Sources said though fencing wire did not suffer much damage in a large area of the border, there were certain pockets, where it had suffered irrevocable damage and would need replacement. Sources said fencing had been affected in various areas falling under Fazilka sector border withPakistan besides Dilawar Bhaini border observation post was inundated with floodwater. Himmat Singh, inspector general, BSF, Punjab frontier, said the water wing had been doing an arduous task but commendable job to safeguard the border. 

At the time of floods, boat nakas cannot be put up but boat patrolling continues, he added. He said water wing of the BSF has been trained specifically to meet all type of challenges during floods. Rajesh Gupta, DIG, BSF, Ferozepur sector, said there was no damage to the existing fencing wire along the international Border under his jurisdiction. 

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