Srinagar, Jan 5 (GNS): the J&K government has declared 1034 kanals of land in Gulmarg and 354 in Sonamarg as ‘strategic areas for government forces.’
However, Divisional Commissioner Pandurang Kondbarao Pole said it is “nothing new."
"There is nothing new in this strategic area for all these lands are already underuse of the army for decades, even for more than 30 to 40 years now for training and other relevant things", he said.
"At both the places (Gulmarg and Sonamarg), training of high altitude is conducted for which the army has already acquired land there and some are requisitioned land", he said, adding, “no new area is being added."
He further said: “Just for the requirement of training, they (army) may need raining halls, etc and this was done to enable them to have the required infrastructure. It was important and as the nod from the administration was given". There is “nothing new” in it as such, Pole added.
(GNS)
