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According to the Home Department, the report's claims are far from the truth. In 2017, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, approved a project worth Rs 415.73 crore for construction of bunkers in border districts of Jammu and Kashmir including Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu division and Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora in Kashmir division. The project aimed to provide safety and security to the civilians living in these areas.
The department has clarified that as of now, an expenditure of Rs 348.29 crore has been made, reflecting a utilization of 83.78% of the allocated funds. This directly contradicts the Daily Excelsior's report that less than 50% of funds had been utilized.
The Home Department has emphasized the importance of accurate reporting, especially on sensitive matters related to public safety and security. The department has stated that the dissemination of partial or inaccurate information not only misleads the public but also risks creating unnecessary concern among affected populations.
The department has pointed out that these references lack factual substantiation and reflect a lapse in journalistic standards. It appears that information obtained via RTI has been selectively presented and misused to portray government efforts in a negative light.
The Home department has also appealed to the editorial team to uphold the core principles of responsible journalism, particularly when reporting on matters of public safety and national interest.
The department has maintained that the narrative presented in the report is both incomplete and misleading. Significant progress has been made in implementation of the bunker construction project since its approval in 2017-18. The department expects the media outlet to issue a clarification with the same prominence as the original report to ensure that future reporting is grounded in complete and accurate data.
