Army to look for alternative firing sites in JK

The Army today said it was willing to look for alternative firing sites in Jammu and Kashmir as the state government proposed constitution of a high-level committee to re-examine short-term extension of firing ranges.
"Though we have shifted our firing points to meet needs of the local people, we are willing to look for alternative sites if offered," said General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra.
The Army Commander was speaking at the Civil-Military Liaison Conference, chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, at Nagrota on the outskirts of the city.
"Most of the field firing ranges, required for operational capability building for troops, are due for notification," Lt Gen Chachra said.

The Chief Minister said "we recognise and appreciate Army's operational, training and strategic requirements."
"We have conveyed a proposal to set up a high-level committee, including Army and government representatives, to re-examine short-term extension of the firing ranges while considering alteranative locations," he said.
The Lt Gen said he had ordered a comprehensive audit of Army's land holdings and requirements in the entire state with a view to retaining only essentially-required land.
In the process, a total of 12 buildings had recently been vacated by the Army and another eight would be vacated very shortly, he said.