Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 20: The State Government has, in principle, agreed to extend lease of at least three Field Firing Ranges (FFRs) out of a total of 10, whose lease in favour of the Army has expired for a long forcing the troops to shift to other States for the firing practice of its soldiers including Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
“The State Government was likely to come out with the order extending lease period of at least three firing ranges following the issue taken up forcibly by the top Army Commanders with Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who holds charge of Home Department,’’ official sources told the Excelsior.
Sources said the Government has assured the Army Commanders that it was seized of the matter including problems faced by the troops in firing practice due to expiry of lease of 10 firing ranges in Jammu and Kashmir including five under the command of 16 Corps i.e. Jammu region, one under 15 Corps (Kashmir) and four under the jurisdiction of 14 Corps (Ladakh).
Fifty years lease period of 10 firing ranges had ended in November 2014 and since then the Army has been pursuing the case of their extension. The issue had also been taken up forcefully in Civil-Military Liaison Conference chaired by the Chief Minister and attended by top brass of Army Commanders and civil administration.
Ten firing ranges, whose lease period has expired, included Mahe (Nyoma, Leh) with an area of 67,953,97 hectares, Khurbarteng (Kargil), Tartar (Leh) having an area of 650 hectares and Kulum (Upshi) in Leh with and area of 24,858.5 hectares, all four in Ladakh region falling under 14 Corps, Tosa Maidan (Budgam) with an area of 27016 hectares in Kashmir under 15 Corps, Chorkhud in Poonch, an area of 10625 hectares, Kalith, Akhnoor (15,604 hectares), Rajouri, Jhallas in Poonch (both small arms firing ranges) and Garhi (Nowshera) in Rajouri district, all five in Jammu region, falling under the Command of 16 Corps.
In addition to this, the Army has also been asked to vacate 130 kanals land in Leh, 200 kanals at Kalsar, 1710.77 kanals at Tattoo Ground, 297 kanals at Wuzur and 137 kanals at Jammu Airport.
Sources said the State Government was considering requirements of the Army and has reportedly agreed to extend lease of three firing ranges. At the first instance, the Government could extend the lease of Kalith firing range in Akhnoor and subsequently, one or two more firing ranges could be allotted once again to Army in Leh and Kargil.
However, there was strong demand from the Army for grant of land in Kashmir region also but going by the situation, the Government might not concede request of the Army immediately, sources said.
While contention of the State Government in denying extension of lease of the firing ranges was that built up areas have come up near the ranges, the Army has projected that it was suffering heavy loss to the State exchequer and defence budget as the artillery units deployed in Jammu and Kashmir had to move to Mahajan and Pokhran firing ranges in Rajasthan and Babina, Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh for practice and training along with log stock and barrel.
“The Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorist Grids get affected due to adjustment of troops deployment during their longer period of absence in Jammu and Kashmir for firing practice camps in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh,’’ sources said.
“The Army has three types of ammunition reserves. While first and second lines were meant to be used in conventional war, the third is kept for practice firing,’’ sources pointed out.
The Army has pointed out that they were left with just about 66 operational field firing ranges as against 104 it had once.
“In view of this, military skills and battle-conditioning of the soldiers was adversely affected. No amount of substitutes like simulators and practice ammunition can replace live firing effects and experiences,’’ they said.
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