by Alok Mohit
PATNA: Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday said protecting the borders of the country was the top priority of the government.
“Due to this the expenditure on enhancing the infrastructure on borders has been increased significantly,” Shah, who visited the Fatehpur border outpost (BOP) on the Indo-Nepal border in Bihar and reviewed various activities of the border area with Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), said.
“After the formation of the government at the Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, no stone has been left unturned in enhancing the infrastructure on the border areas. Between 2008 and 2014, around Rs 23,700 crore was spent. But after 2014, the amount of Rs 23,700 crore has been increased to Rs 44,600 crore,” he said.
Earlier the expenditure which was Rs 4,000 crore per year is now Rs 6,000 crore per year. The construction of roads has been increased by almost three and a half times and this reflects the priority of the government to protect the borders. The security of the borders of the country cannot be ensured without the tireless work and sacrifice of the security forces,” a Press Information Bureau release quoted Shah as saying.
Shah, who concluded his two-day visit to Seemanchal area of Bihar on Saturday, also inaugurated BOP buildings of Fatehpur, Pektola, Beria, Amgachi and Raniganj at Fatehpur BOP and interacted with SSB personnel and had refreshments with them there. He also visited Budhi Kali Mata Temple at Kishanganj in Bihar and offered prayers.
Shah also praised the “huge contribution” by SSB personnel in fight against Left Wing Extremism in Bihar and Jharkhand.” SSB Jawans fought a tough battle against Naxalism …and as a result of this, Naxalism in Bihar and Jharkhand is almost on the verge of ending,” Shah said.
He said that the Narendra Modi government has been working in a time bound and phased manner to provide residential facilities to security forces personnel deployed along the borders and their families in the last eight years. Under this national programme, five buildings were being inaugurated at a cost of Rs 25 crore, he added.
The Union home minister said the Narendra Modi government believed that the personnel of security forces spend the golden years of their lives in difficult conditions on the borders for the security of the country. “It is the duty of the government to take care of their well-being and convenience,” he said.
