The Jammu and Kashmir government has agreed to “expeditiously examine” the Army’s demand for notifying Bajpathri forest area—close to Yusmarg hill resort in central Kashmir’s Budgam district—for its use as an artillery firing range.
The Army had taken up the issue during the Civil-Military Liaison Conference (CMLC) headed by Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed in September this year.
“Noting that the details of the proceedings undertaken so far in regard to the notification of Thambri (Bajpathri) field firing range, it was agreed that Government will expeditiously examine the proposal for an early decision,” read the minutes of the meeting, accessed by us.
The Army had sought notification of Bajpathri as an alternate site for setting up its firing range after the previous government headed by Omar Abdullah refused to extend lease of Tosamaidan firing range (also in Budgam district) in April 2014 following massive public outcry.
Quoting the proposal, a senior official, who was part of the September CMLC, said the firing range would be set up at Bajpathri with impact area at Thambri.
“A large forest area stretched in two districts of Budgam and Shopian would come under the proposed firing range,” he said.
The official said last year, the Government had set up a panel headed by Chief Secretary to look into the Army’s demand. The panel, he said, in turn sought views of Tourism, Forest and PHE departments on the matter.
The studies by independent departments have however cautioned that scores of villages with sizeable population would get impacted by the firing range, apart from at least 10 water supply schemes that meet the water requirements of scores of areas from Yusmarg to Charar-i-Sharief on one side and Pakherpora on the other. The Tourism department had said the move would “deal a blow to Yusmarg as a tourism destination.”
Army had proposed two sites—Bajpathri and an area located between Hathungali and Sinthan Top—to the CS-led panel for relocating Tosamaidan firing which was on lease to army for 50 years.
“The issue (of notifying Bajpathri as firing range) is under the consideration of the government and any decision will be taken keeping in view all the issues,” said a senior Home Department official.
He said the Government would ask the Committee to come up with “final recommendation” on the matter.
“There will be deliberations between government authorities and top brass of Army before a final decision is taken,” the official said.
Bajpathri is located near Yusmarg, a picturesque meadow visited by more than three lakh tourists annually. The lush green meadows, fresh water streams and thick pine forests make the tourist resort an attractive destination.
