Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 4: Army today clarified that it is committed to meet all mutually agreed decisions on land issues during Civil Military Liaison Conference (CMLC) held last year on September 29 with the then Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed.
A defence spokesman while reacting to news reports published by a section of press said it is committed to meeting all the mutually agreed decisions arising not only out of CMLC 2015 but of all previous such CMLC meetings. The report appearing in a newspaper couple of days ago has focused only on Anantnag High Ground case, he said, adding that however there are a large number of similar inter connected issues which are raised from time to time.
“In the past, Army has handed over ‘A1 Defence Land’ at Batmaloo, Pantha Chowk, Hari Parbat, etcetera which were essential to develop civil amenities for the people of Shahar-e-Khas. It has also provided timely ‘NOC’ to infrastructure development projects like Haft Chinar flyover, roads construction under NHAI, BEACON and PMGSY especially in Border Areas.
“While it has been agreed in principle to exchange Tattoo Ground land for alternate land, in the interim a Citizen Park is under construction for the ‘Awaam’ – a proactive step by the Army which has no past precedence. The Army has also committed to providing land for expansion of Jammu University and land under its possession at Anantnag for establishment of South Campus of Kashmir University,” he said.
The spokesman said the Army has also agreed to vacate the Lower Plateau at Kargil at the request of the Administration. However he said: “At the same time, the genuine needs of the Army in terms of regularisation of land under occupation, alternate land in lieu of land being vacated etc were also discussed in the CMLC which are to be progressed by the State Administration.”
The attempt by some newspapers to portray the Army as stepping back from its commitments is regrettable as it has no basis in facts, the defence spokesman added.
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