NC accuses army of harassing Nagrota residents, Army denies

National Conference (NC) today accused the army of "harassing" the residents living along the ammunition depot in Nagrota area by not allowing them to undertake any construction activity and demanded the depot's relocation.
While NC demanded the relocation of the storage facility alleging that the locals were not allowed to carry out any construction activities, the army refuted the charge and said under the Defense Works Act of 1903, no construction can be done in the radius of one kilometre around the boundary of an ammunition depot.
"Around 4,000 families living near the ammunition depot in Jandrah area of Nagrota in Jammu district who have leased their land to the Army are being harassed by them as they are not allowed any type of constructions," NC provincial president Devender Singh Rana told reporters here today.

He said the people living along the ammunition depot had leased their land to the Army in 1964 and they have been given meagre compensation.
"Even today, the Army is paying only Rs 500 per kanal of land and that too has not been paid for the past three years," Rana said, demanding that the force relocate the ammunition depot elsewhere.
A Defence spokesman Col S D Goswami said that "under Defense Works Act 1903 published by the Government of India Gazette, no civilian construction can be done within a radius of one kilometre from the boundary of the ammunition depots".

As per the notification published by Deputy Commissioner Jammu in May 2011, he said, no construction or dumping of construction material within 1000 yards from outer perimeters was allowed.

He said the Deputy Commissioner and the Tehsildar has to demarcate the area and the civil administration has to provide the compensation to the affected people.
In the case of Jandrah ammunition depot, the spokesperson said demarcation was pending for the past five years.
He said post-Pathankot terror attack, the army has held three meetings to ensure safety in and around the area of the depot.
Goswami said the recruitment of labourers was done following a due process and the people who fulfil the laid criteria were appointed.

He said that 70 per cent employees in the ammunition depot were from Jammu and only 30 per cent from other areas.