|
Lok Sabha
As per the figures available with the Army Head Quarters the total number of civilians killed and injured in landmine blast during the period Jan 01, 2002 to Nov 30, 2004 in the three states bordering Pakistan namely Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir are 48 and 236 respectively.
De-mining operations commenced in Nov 2002 and most of the work has been completed. Process of recovery of remaining mines is still underway. A small quantity of mines still remain unaccounted for due to prolonged deployment, mines drifting due to heavy rains, rodents shifting the mines and growth of dense vegetation obstructing recovery operations in the mine fields. The unrecovered mines remain potential risks.
De-mining operations in areas suspected to have mines are still in progress. Trained soldiers and specialized equipment are being used. Even where all mines have been reasonably accounted for, the land has been handed over to the owner with precautionary advice to the users.
This information was given by the Defence Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee in a written reply to Shri Subhash Sureshchandra Deshmukh in Lok Sabha today.
|
