Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 14: The Government has refused to extend the lease period of 80,000 hectares land in favour of Army at Kaleeth firing range in Akhnoor tehsil severely affecting practice firing and other activities of the troops. The lease had expired in June and the Government hasn’t renewed it so far despite reminders by the Army authorities.
Official sources told the Excelsior that 88,000 hectares land was in possession of the Army at Kaleeth firing range in Akhnoor sector since 1970 i.e. for past 44 years, which was being used by the troops for practice, training and other activities. The land was renewed after every 10 years.
However, the latest 10 years period of land renewal for 80,000 hectares land expired in June this year and despite taking up the matter with the Government well in time, it didn’t extend the land period, leaving the Army with just 8000 hectares land i.e. less than one-tenth of what the troops had for the past several years.
“Army has been left with just 8000 hectares of land for carrying out activities like practice and training, which is grossly insufficient. It was hoping the Government would extend lease of land and issue notification for its use as firing range for another 10 years when the lease expires in June. But despite reminders, the Government didn’t act and lease of 80,000 hectares land expired,” sources said, adding the Army was now left with just 8000 hectares land, which was grossly inadequate to carry out its large activities like practice firing etc.
Sources said the Army is once again going to take up the matter of extension of entire 88,000 hectares land in Kaleeth firing range with the Government citing its necessity and requirement for the purpose of practice firing and carry out other routine activities, which were necessary for the Army.
Sources said the Army has decided to carry out its activities including firing only in 8000 hectares land at Kaleeth, which was left with it and would demine rest of 80,000 hectares land, for which the Government hasn’t extended the lease period.
Though the Army has decided to continue to pursue with the Government the matter to extend lease period of 80,000 hectares of land, sources said a favourable decision seems unlikely.
Meanwhile, the Army has started clean up drive to clear entire Kaleeth firing range from unexploded devices and shells from August 5. The Army has decided to sanitize the entire area.
Sources said the Army has been carrying out physical search of impact area of the ranges by using explosive detector dogs, remotely operated vehicles, mine podders, deep search metal detectors and bomb disposal items. So far, search of 80 per cent of impact area of artillery range and 75 per cent of mortar and demolition range has been completed.
“Army is using a combination of manual and technologically advanced techniques for clearing the area. In the initial phase, Army would be sanitizing the complete impact area of artillery, mortar and demolition ranges. Thereafter, a deliberate search will be carried out to complete range area to ensure that no unexploded bomb is left over. Some blind explosives were recovered in mortar and demolition range during the mission and they were destroyed on spot,” sources said.
They pointed out that demining operations had become a necessity after the Government didn’t renew lease of the land in favour of the Army.
Meanwhile, Brigade Commander of 52 Infantry Brigade Brig R S Bhadauria told reporters in Akhnoor that there is no firing practice taking place in Kaleeth firing range after the expiry of the lease in June 2014.
“There is no training of jawans taking place since then”, he added.
Brig Bhadauria, who is supervising “Mission Humsafar” to remove unexploded shells from firing range in Kalith in Akhnoor border belt of Army’s 10 Division, demanded immediate grant of extension of the lease.
“The delay in training at firing range and firing practice is causing great loss to the Army to keep jawans and officers fit for counter-insurgency environment”, the Brigade Commander said.
The process of writing to State Government for grant of the extension has been done six months ago before the date of expiry of the lease, the officer said, further claiming “this has happened for the first time that we are yet to get grant of extension”.
The last time lease was granted for one decade in 2004. The lease of firing range is granted by J&K Government for 10 years.
Falling in Jammu district, Kalith Field Firing Range is a notified range and is located in Akhnoor sub division. It is being used by the Army since 1970 for firing of Infantry and Artillery weapon systems.
“This firing range based on 88,000 acres in three sector in 1970 and now it is squeezed to 8000 acres”, he said adding “If we cannot do any firing practice here, we have sent our troops to Rajasthan to do practice there”.
Kalith Field Firing Range (KFFR) which is marked into separate zones for artillery, mortar and small-arms firing is located close to the Line of Control where many units of the Northern Command carry out regular field firing.
When asked about withholding of the grant of lease to army with regard of Kalith Firing Range, a Government official said: “All formalities were completed by Deputy Commissioner Jammu and we recommended grant of lease to Army for this range one month ago.”
“The file has been sent to Commissioner State, Home Department for approval. We do not know anything”, he added.
With the establishment of Kalith Field Firing Range Cell at Station HQ Pallanwala since July 2011, the ranges have been safe and incident-free and no civilian causality has been reported to have occurred inside the range area as a result of the blinds, an official said.
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