Govt designate 1388 Kanals of land in Kmr as strategic area of armed force
The Jammu and Kashmir government has designated 1034 Kanal of land in Gulmarg and 354 Kanal of land in Sonmarg as strategic areas for operational and training requirements of armed force.
Further, the government has also notified 3274 Kanal in Samba district for the purpose of field firing and artillery practice for a period of 10 years. Reports said that two separate notifications in this regard have been issued by the Tourism and Home Department.
Whereas, the land has been designated under Jammu and Kashmir Development Act, 1970 and Manoeuvres, Field Firing and Artillery Practice Act, 1938.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of section 3 of Jammu and Kashmir Development Act, 1970, the government on the request of Corp Commander hereby declare land measuring 1034 Kanal and 6 Maralas situated at Gulmarg and land measuring 354 Kanals situated at Sonmarg as strategic areas for operational and training requirements of Armed force”, reads the notification issued by the Secretary to the Government, Tourism Department.
Sources told that the Corp Commander had requested the government last year to provide armed force area for operational and training requirements, following which the meetings were held and accordingly land was allotted in Gulmarg and Sonmarg.
Sources further added that Corp Commander has been asked to ensure strict adherence to the environment-related laws to prevent any environmental hazard. Also, Corp Commander shall ensure that no applicable law in force in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is observed in the breach.
Further, the Corp Commander has been asked to ensure that the orders if any passed by the Court or Tribunal in this regard, are strictly adhered to.
In another notification issued by the Home Department, land measuring 3247 Kanal and 17 Maralas situated at Badheri, Tehsil and District Samba has been designated for the purpose of carrying out filed, firing and artillery practice.
“In exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (1) of Section 9 of Manoeuvres, Field Firing and Artillery Practice Act, 1938, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir hereby defines the area, measuring 3247 Kanals and 17 Maralas, situated at Baheri, Tehsil and District Samba as an area for the purpose of carrying out periodically, field firing and artillery practice, as per the agreed Standard Operating Procedure, for a period of 10 years”, reads the order notification issued by Rashid Raina, Under Secretary to the Government.
Meanwhile reacting to the allocation of land in Gulmarg and Sonmarg as strategic areas for operational and training requirements of armed force, Mehbooba said, “Allocating thousands of kanals to armed forces that too in tourist areas confirms GOIs intention to convert J&K into a military garrison”.
Mehbooba tweeted, “Allocating thousands of kanals to armed forces that too in tourist areas confirms GOIs intention to convert J&K into a military garrison. Under the ‘state land’ pretext, our land is up for grabs & to add insult to injury locals are being evicted from their homes”.
