SECURITY infrastructure for BSF troops deployed in the marshy creek areas of Kutch along the India-Pakistan international maritime border in Gujarat will be upgraded amid an increase in the number of apprehensions of Pak fishermen, official sources said on Wednesday.

They said all-weather border posts, improved systems for power and water supply and installation of surveillance equipments will be done in the area which faces harsh weather and geographical conditions in the about 100-km tidal estuary of Sir Creek and the ‘Harami Nalla’ areas.

The Union Home ministry has sometime back approved a BSF proposal to develop border infrastructure in this area for its troops and the subject was also taken up by Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla when he reviewed the operational preparedness of the force last month.

The number of apprehensions of fishermen and their boats in the creek area in Kutch has risen. While nothing incriminating has been seized from these Pakistani citizens in the recent past, it is essential to man the area 24x7 to check infiltration of terrorists and weapons, a senior security officer said.

He said the BSF wants to establish modern infrastructure for its troops so that they face less difficulties while doing their routine administrative tasks, patrolling and surveillance of the area.

While Indian fishermen are barred from entering the creek area, Pakistani fishermen enter the Indian side to catch fish.

A number of times, such fishermen escape towards the Pakistan side after abandoning their boats once they spot BSF patrol boats.

In July, the BSF caught four fishermen from the neighbouring country and seized 10 boats and this was preceded by apprehension of three more Pakistani fishermen with nine Pakistani boats in June.

In May, the force had seized nine Pakistan fishing boats near Harami Nala in Bhuj and caught three fishermen.

The Union Home Secretary, while holding a meeting with top BSF brass on July 16, directed the force to expedite the work to develop better border infrastructure in the ‘Harami Nalla’ and creek areas, they said.