Srinagar: The Army has agreed to return over 350 acres of state land under its use in twin capitals of Srinagar and Jammu and in southern Anantnag and frontier Kargil districts of Jammu and Kashmir by March-end.
One of the preconditions set by Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) for forming the government is that the state be compensated for the illegal occupation of acres of land by the army and other central security forces.
The land being returned to the State by March 31 include 16.30 acres adjoining the campus of Jammu University, 212 acres at Tatoo Grounds in Srinagar and about 58 acres at high grounds, Anantnag.
Also, a big chunk of land being held by Army at lower Plateau Khurba Thang in Kargil will be returned as was agreed at a meeting Governor, N.N. Vohra had with Lt. Gen. D S Hooda, GOC-in-C Northern Command, at Raj Bhavan in Jammu late Thursday evening.
An official spokesman said the land at Kargil will be formerly vacated and its possession handed over to the Chief Secretary of the State, B.R.Sharma, who is the chairman of the committee set up earlier to sort out the issue with the Army authorities, during his planned visit to the frontier town later this month.
The land at other places will be handed over to the State before March 31 after the Governor and the Army Commander together will visit the locations for physical verifications regarding their possible utilisation for creating parks and recreational facilities for the youth as has been proposed at mutual discussions earlier.
At Thursday’s ‘extensive discussions’ with Lt. Gen. Hooda, Governor Vohra reviewed the implementation of decisions taken in earlier civil-military liaison conferences with regard to all land matters relating to the Army.
The meeting was attended also by Sharma and other senior officers of the State. The Governor asked the Committee headed by the Chief Secretary to visit the locations in Jammu, Srinagar, Anantnag and Kargil ‘to satisfy all formalities on the spot and take over the said sites’.
The official spokesman said that the Governor also reviewed all other decisions and certain understandings arrived at with the Army Commander with regard to the location of Army’s High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) at ski resort of Gulmarg.
“The Governor shall shortly have another meeting with the Army Commander on the issue,” the spokesman said. Official sources said that the Army may be asked to relocate the HAWS or, at least, hand over some of the land under its occupation to the Gulmarg Development Authority to enhance the facilities at the premier resort of the Valley.
The meeting also discussed all cases relating to the regularisation of certain lands and buildings occupied by the Army at various places across the State and decisions were taken to take further action in this regard before May 31. For this purpose, the Chief Secretary-led committee will meet regularly till all the cases are settled amicably, the spokesman said.
He added the meeting also discussed issues relating to the notification of firing ranges at various places.
“It was decided that the Chief Secretary shall pursue the pending issues with the Ministry of Defence, particularly regarding the enhancement of the scales of rent payable for the required areas of land,” he said.
At a separate meeting the Governor reviewed internal and external security issues with officials of civil administration, police, Army and Central intelligence agencies.
The Governor was informed about the redeployments undertaken to strengthen security in the aftermath of last month’s terror attack at Sempora, Pampore on the outskirts of Srinagar in which five security personnel including two Army officers and all three militants were killed.
Director General of Police, K Rajendra Kumar and the State heads of various security forces said at the meeting that the ‘Multi-Agency Security Audit’ of all important establishments and vital installations in the State, undertaken after the recent attack on Air Force Base at Pathankot, has been completed and necessary actions taken.
The meeting discussed various important issues relating to the effective enforcement of the counter infiltration and counter terrorism grids along the International Border and Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir regions.
“The measures decided earlier to be taken for maintaining internal order, particularly before, during and after encounters held by the security forces with militants and terrorists, were discussed and certain fresh decisions were taken to more effectively ensure against collateral damage during encounters,” a statement issued in Jammu said.
It added that it was also decided that enhanced attention and increased deployment shall be given to counter attempts of infiltration from across the IB and LoC.
The meeting also discussed a new trend in the Kashmir Valley that has caused worry among the security forces’ authorities, where people are turning in large numbers at the funerals of slain militants and start chanting pro-azadi slogans on seeing security forces arriving in their area to take on militants.
The 'protestors' also move close to encounter sites and even target security forces with stones. At least, two persons were killed and over a dozen injured in security forces' firing and other actions against protesters during past few weeks.
“With regards to enlarging awareness of the civilian population regarding the risks involved in gathering when operations are ongoing, the Chief Secretary informed that he had recently held a meeting with all district magistrates and superintendents of police to sensitise them about various important issues relating to security and law and order maintenance,” the statement said.
It added that Sharma will be holding a similar meeting in Srinagar for ensuring enhanced coordination between security forces and civil administration.
The Governor stressed the need for continued cohesive action by all the security forces in tandem with the civil administration for ensuring maintenance of public order. The Governor also called upon the Police, CRPF and Army to keep a close constant vigil for effective security management.
