Border districts launch major survey of illegal constructions near India-Pakistan border

JAISALMER: After years of concerns over unauthorized constructions near the India-Pakistan international border in Rajasthan, authorities have now initiated a large-scale verification and survey exercise that could lead to strict action against illegal structures and encroachments.On May 26, Union home minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting in Bikaner with district collectors, superintendents of police (SPs), the Border Security Force (BSF), and other security agencies from Rajasthan’s five border districts.During the meeting, he directed officials to strengthen security arrangements in border areas and take strict action against illegal constructions and encroachments.Following the meeting, district administrations in Rajasthan’s border districts have constituted district-level and village-level committees to conduct an extensive survey of all constructions located within a 0–50 km radius of the international border.The committees will examine multiple parameters, including the legality of structures, encroachments, domestic and foreign funding sources, unusual bank transactions, and other security-related concerns.The survey officially commenced on Friday, and the committees are expected to submit their preliminary reports within the next four to five days. The BSF and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) will assist in the exercise.Confirming the development, Jaisalmer district collector Anupama Jorwal said that during the May 26 meeting with the Union home minister, all border districts were instructed to develop a comprehensive “360-degree grid security system.”The Home Minister also directed officials to conduct surveys of illegal constructions and encroachments within the 0–50 km border belt.In compliance with these directions, Jaisalmer district constituted a district-level committee on Thursday comprising senior officers from all stakeholder departments, including revenue officials. In addition, village-level committees have also been formed, consisting of patwaris, police personnel, tehsildars from the Colonization Department, and other field officials. These committees began their work on Friday.Jorwal said that the committees would inspect sites, verify ownership and construction documents, and assess the legal status of structures and land occupation in the border region.A key aspect of the exercise will be investigating the source of funds used for construction activities in the border belt. Authorities will examine the nature of the structures, the amount of money invested, and where the funding originated.The district collector stated that assistance from the Intelligence Bureau (IB), BSF, and other intelligence and security agencies would be sought to determine who financed and facilitated such constructions, whether any foreign assistance was involved, and who was behind these projects.Given the proximity to the international border, the issue is considered highly sensitive from a national security perspective.Once the survey is completed, the report will be submitted to the Rajasthan Government, which will take further decisions based on its findings.Jorwal further revealed that information is also being sought from the State Bank of India (SBI) and other banks to identify any unusual domestic or foreign funding linked to construction activities in the border region.Authorities will examine whether any individuals have received suspicious or abnormally large financial transactions and will analyze several other important parameters.To strengthen surveillance in border areas, the administration is also developing a local intelligence network involving patwaris, livestock herders, former servicemen, and Anganwadi workers. The objective is to create a grassroots information system capable of reporting suspicious activities or fresh encroachments to authorities in a timely manner.Similarly, Barmer district collector Chinmayi Gopal confirmed that, in accordance with directions received during the Bikaner meeting with the Union home minister, committees comprising police and other agencies have been formed and began survey operations on Friday.She added that the survey was initially planned for the 0–15 km border zone, but later, following instructions from the state government, its scope was expanded to cover the entire 0–50 km area from the international border.