People warn stir over acquisition of land for field firing range

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 28: The residents of various areas of tehsil Akhnoor criticized the Government notification for SRO 462 regarding acquisition of land for carrying out field firing and artillery practice by Army and warned to launch agitation against it.
Addressing a gathering at Sohal, Advocate Sourabh Sharma said that the notification issued by the Government is against the Constitutional Rights and livelihood of the residents of different areas of Akhnoor including Jourian, Khour, Kharah and Chowki Choura.
He said that the field firing and artillery practice under the maneuvers, field firing and Artillery Practice Act, 1938 in the notified areas given in the above said notification is not suitable for this developing and thickly populated area.
He further stated that this will cause hundreds of deaths and casualties due to unexploded bombs and missiles. The children will be spoiled by their educational career, he said, adding that 80 per cent of the notified area of the notification is totally depending on their agricultural lands and remaining population have their own small business units like private educational institutions, colleges, medical dispensaries and shops.
“If such practices as provided in the notification come into force it would cause irreparable loss to the people of the said area who are totally dependant upon their small scale business”, he said.
Sourabh Sharma warned the authorities concerned to immediately withdraw the SRO 462 and warned to launch agitation.
Among others present were Sarpanchs Niranjan Singh, Bikram Singh, Kali Dass,  Gullu Ram and Raj Kumar and Panchs of the concerned Panchayats namely Pawan Kumar and Labbu Ram.