India to build bunkers near Kargil
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Dec 10 — In order to provide greater security to people living in the border districts of Kargil, the Centre had granted Rs 4 crore for the construction of bunkers and 2,000 of them are to be ready by the year end.

The district administration plans to construct these bunkers at a cost of Rs 3.40 crore and it includes the construction of about 24 by the government institution, a senior Union Home Ministry official said here today.

During the next financial year, 1000 more bunkers would be constructed in border villages apart from 100 community bunkers in Kargil town at a cost of Rs 200 lakh, the official said.

The size of family bunkers has been fixed at 7 feet by 17 feet with each costing Rs 20,000. Of this Rs 15,000 is to be given to the family as cash assistance and the balance in the form of CGI sheets.

The decision was taken in June with the Planning Commission approving the release of Rs 4 crore as special central assistance under the border area development plan to the state government.

Three Bills passed

NEW DELHI, Dec 10 (PTI) — Parliament today passed three Bills — the Indian Majority Amendment Bill, the Administrators-General Amendment Bill and the Notaries Amendment Bill with the Lok Sabha giving its approval to the measures.

The Bills have already been passed by the Rajya Sabha.

The Indian Majority Amendment Bill seeks to bring down the age of majority to 18 from 21 for all, including minors under guardians appointed or declared by a court of justice, thus bringing it in line with the Constitution amendment which lowered the voting age to 18.

Replying to the brief debate, the Law Minister, Mr Ram Jethmalani, said it was a measure aimed at correcting the “historical anomaly” in the 1986 Act.

The Administrators-General Amendment Bill seeks to enhance the monetary limit from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh for issuing certificates to a person claiming assets of a deceased other than as a creditor.

The Notaries Amendment Bill seeks to raise the renewal of certificate of practice of notaries from three to five years.