The Jammu and Kashmir Government is mulling over giving Tragbal meadows in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district to the Army for setting up an artillery firing range in lieu of the Tosa Maidan field firing range.
Taking into consideration the damage which could be caused to flora and fauna, the government has dropped the plan to hand over land at Tulail in the Gurez area of the district to the Army and is instead thinking over giving the higher reaches of Tragbal, adjacent to Razdan Pass, for a field firing range.
“The Army is in possession of over 200 hectares at Tragbal. It would be proper that the Army expands its possession there so that we could assuage public anger,” said an official of the state Home Department.
The proposal to hand over Tragbal came after the state government faced public criticism for allowing the Army to set up an artillery firing range at Bajpathri in Budgam district or at Tulail in Bandipora district.
The Army had sought notification of the Bajpathri meadows for setting up a field firing range after the previous government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah refused to extend lease of the adjacent meadow of Tosa Maidan for its use as a firing range on April 18, 2014.
However, the move was opposed by civil society, separatists, opposition National Conference and Save Yusmarg Movement, saying the firing range will adversely affect the biodiversity of the area.
Even the National Green Tribunal, in January this year, raised voice against handing over the Bajpathri meadow to the Army for undertaking field firing drills.
Later, the Army moved a proposal of Tulail in Gurez for setting up a firing range. However, the move has been opposed by the people of Gurez, saying it will affect the human habitation, besides the flora and fauna.
More than 60 civilians have lost their lives due to the explosion of shells in Tosa Maidan, which was under the Army’s control for more than 50 years.
In September last year, the state government had agreed to examine the Army’s demands for notifying land for setting up an artillery firing range in lieu of Tosa Maidan.
A high-level committee of the state Home Department and the Army has been mandated to look for an alternate and feasible place for a firing range.
Officials say the Army is yet to submit the denotification letter on the Tosa Maidan meadow.
Chief Secretary BR Sharma said the process to provide land to the Army against the Tosa Maidan field firing range was yet to be concluded. “We are considering several options, but the final decision is yet to be taken,” Sharma said.
Govt mulls handing over Tragbal to Army to set up firing range
