Samaan Lateef

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 25

The Jammu and Kashmir Government is mulling over giving Tragbal meadows in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district to the Army for setting up an artillery firing range in lieu of the Tosa Maidan field firing range.Taking into consideration the damage which could be caused to flora and fauna, the government has dropped the plan to hand over land at Tulail in the Gurez area of the district to the Army and is instead thinking over giving the higher reaches of Tragbal, adjacent to Razdan Pass, for a field firing range.“The Army is in possession of over 200 hectares at Tragbal. It would be proper that the Army expands its possession there so that we could assuage public anger,” said an official of the state Home Department.The proposal to hand over Tragbal came after the state government faced public criticism for allowing the Army to set up an artillery firing range at Bajpathri in Budgam district or at Tulail in Bandipora district.The Army had sought notification of the Bajpathri meadows for setting up a field firing range after the previous government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah refused to extend lease of the adjacent meadow of Tosa Maidan for its use as a firing range on April 18, 2014.However, the move was opposed by civil society, separatists, opposition National Conference and Save Yusmarg Movement, saying the firing range will adversely affect the biodiversity of the area.Even the National Green Tribunal, in January this year, raised voice against handing over the Bajpathri meadow to the Army for undertaking field firing drills.Later, the Army moved a proposal of Tulail in Gurez for setting up a firing range. However, the move has been opposed by the people of Gurez, saying it will affect the human habitation, besides the flora and fauna.More than 60 civilians have lost their lives due to the explosion of shells in Tosa Maidan, which was under the Army’s control for more than 50 years.In September last year, the state government had agreed to examine the Army’s demands for notifying land for setting up an artillery firing range in lieu of Tosa Maidan.A high-level committee of the state Home Department and the Army has been mandated to look for an alternate and feasible place for a firing range.Officials say the Army is yet to submit the denotification letter on the Tosa Maidan meadow.Chief Secretary BR Sharma said the process to provide land to the Army against the Tosa Maidan field firing range was yet to be concluded. “We are considering several options, but the final decision is yet to be taken,” Sharma said.

Firing range likely in Bandipora

• The proposal to hand over the Tragbal meadows in Bandipora district to the Army for a field firing range came after the government faced criticism for allowing the Army to set up an artillery firing range at Bajpathri in Budgam district or at Tulail in Bandipora district
• The Army had sought notification of the Bajpathri meadows for setting up a field firing range after the government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah refused to extend lease of the adjacent meadow of Tosa Maidan for its use as a firing range on April 18, 2014

Raman Mohan
Like everything else that is overexploited, the SYL Canal row too is subject to the law of diminishing returns. For some 20 odd years, this controversy did give a decisive edge to the party that succeeded in raising passions of the populace over this issue. But the ill-fated project lost that potential a long time ago.

DSP Rajpura R S Sohal briefing the anti-riot police deployed along the SYL canal near Rajpura. A public notice has been put up by the police after the Supreme Court order on maintaining status quo, thus barring any activity on the SYL canal Tribune Photo: Manoj Mahajan

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal appears intent on riding the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal horse in order to romp home in the next assembly poll due in about a year. Towards that end, he has taken on the Supreme Court even by refusing to accept its order to maintain status quo on the land acquired for the construction of the canal through a resolution passed by the legislative assembly. That shows his resolve not to let go of the canal row under any circumstances till the 2017 election. Having spent a life time in politics, the senior Badal may well be risking all in what could turn out to be his last bid at the office of the Chief Minister of Punjab.  Ever since Haryana came into being in 1966, the canal issue has been used by politicians of both states for electoral gains. For some 20 odd years, this controversy did give a decisive edge to the party that succeeded in raising passions of the populace over this issue. But the ill-fated project lost that potential a long time ago.The last time this issue was tested for its political potency was in 2004. In June that year, the apex court directed Punjab to complete the work in its territory. However, on July 12, 2004, the then Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had the Punjab Assembly pass The Punjab Termination of Agreements Bill, 2004, thus terminating its water-sharing agreements, and effectively stopping the construction of the canal in Punjab. But, this did not improve the chances of the Congress in the next assembly poll in 2007. The Congress lost and the Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party combine came to power. Since then, the canal as a political tool had been gathering dust till it was suddenly rescued from oblivion by the Punjab Chief Minister as his weapon of choice for the impending electoral battle.So far as the people of Haryana are concerned, the issue of the canal is no longer an issue that will decide the fate of an election. The SYL Canal issue lost its emotional and political potency with the eclipse of the maverick Devi Lal, former Deputy Prime Minister. The last time the people of Haryana attached importance to this issue was in 1985, after the Rajiv Gandhi-Harchand Singh Longowal accord was signed. The late Devi Lal, who was in political wilderness then after being completely outplayed by that master practitioner of realpoltik the late Bhajan Lal grabbed the chance offered by the accord and launched an agitation which swept him to power in 1987. That was the last election in which the SYL Canal issue had played a decisive role, so much so that months before the election the then Chief Minister Bansi Lal took panches and sarpanches to SYL project sites in Punjab to see the progress of construction.In the 1991 elections, the failure of the Devi Lal clan to run a government for a full five-year term was the main issue not the SYL Canal or other territorial disputes. Similarly, in 1996, the people put their faith in Bansi Lal mainly due to his promise to ban liquor in Haryana. Since then, the people of the two states have attached little importance to the SYL Canal. This indifference towards the project is more pronounced in Haryana than in Punjab. Psychologically, the farmers of Haryana appear to have resigned to their fate. Streetwise as they are, they know by now that whatever their chosen politicians say about the canal, the project is not going to materialise. A farmer put it succinctly: We are not losing something we had. So, it is a lesser loss considering the lost asset was never in our hands. In Punjab, there is a subtle psychological difference. By and large, farmers know that they stand to gain nothing should Punjab abandon this project. Already they are utilising whatever is available from the rivers. Additionally, they are pumping out underground water at an alarming rate. So, the Punjab farmers do not stand to gain substantially from abandoning the project. There are several other reasons why the SYL Canal figures nowhere in the list of priorities of the voters in Haryana. The change in the demographic pattern has a lot to do with the relegation of this issue to the back burner. In Haryana, over 65 per cent of voters are under the age of 35. The SYL Canal is an issue they have just heard of. They have heard politicians cry themselves hoarse over this issue but this generation does not relate to the issue in the same way as their elders did. Besides, the new generation is losing interest in agriculture itself. They are more interested in jobs rather than in more water for their already fragmented land holdings. Demographic patterns and land holdings have changed in Punjab too just as much as in Haryana. Rampant corruption, unemployment, the problem of drug addiction, financial mess and lack of industry and infrastructure are far more important and closer to voters in Punjab than the SYL Canal.  As a result, the SYL Canal issue is now close to the hearts of political parties and their leaders only not the man on the street. No wonder then that Badal’s moves have failed to evoke any reaction among the people of Haryana which could have provoked a reaction from the farmers of Punjab much to the glee of Badals. Of course it is different for politicians and political parties. Haryana politicians, including Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, reacted meekly at first and then stridently in a bid to outdo rivals. That is likely to continue until the issue is once again buried. As against this, people in Delhi attach more importance to the project for the simple reason that that the formal death of the canal project would end all hopes of an improved supply of drinking water there in the near future. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has, therefore, erred by opposing the construction of the canal. The prospects of his party winning the next assembly poll in Punjab have obviously weighed on his mind more than the needs of the people of Delhi. He could well end up annoying voters in the national capital.Nevertheless, the political death of the canal issue does not diminish the importance of the project for Haryana at least. The water is crucial for the thirsty fields and parched throats in several districts of Haryana. The only way to come to an amicable settlement is to sit across the table, forget politics and just keep the interests of the people of the two states in mind. The leaders should keep in mind that had there been no division of Punjab, river waters would have been shared equitably among all areas. A boundary and a new name are hardly any reason not to share natural resources. If politicians of the two states can share space in Chandigarh, why not river waters? The writer is a veteran Haryana journalist.

Mumbai, March 21

The world’s highest rail bridge being constructed over the Chenab river in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir will be “terror attack-proof” and is expected to be completed by early 2019, the Konkan Railway has said.“Apart from being safe from all possible disasters, including earthquakes, this bridge will be absolutely safe to sustain terror strike and every precautionary step is being considered to make it foolproof,” Konkan Railway Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Gupta told reporters, who visited the bridge site.“I want to assure you all that this bridge will be most safe and the perfect way to travel,” said Gupta.He said almost 60 per cent of the work was done, and after completion, the maximum permissible limit for a train over the bridge would be 90 kmph. An 18-coach train can tolerate wind speed of 80 kmph while passing through it.“We are making the bridge terror-proof. We have taken logistical support of DRDO officials and when completed, the bridge’s pillars and other parts can withstand a jolt created by 40 kg of RDX with no immediate adverse effect on the operation of the trains,” said another senior official.The construction of the 359-m high and 1,315-m long rail bridge started in 2005 and it was initially slated to be completed in December 2009.However, in 2008 the work was stopped amid fears over its stability and safety. Its construction restarted in 2010 and officials hope to complete it by early 2019.The bridge is part of the much-awaited 326-km-long Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link that will connect the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country. — PTI

‘Can withstand 40-kg RDX blast’

• The world’s highest rail bridge (359 metre high and 1,315 metre long) is being constructed over the Chenab river in Reasi district. It is expected to be completed by early 2019
• The Railways has taken logistical support of DRDO officials. The bridge can withstand a jolt created by 40 kg of RDX with no immediate adverse effect on the operation of the trains, said a railway official

The city bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal on Tuesday fined the Union government ` 50,000 for being insensitive towards a physically challenged soldier and denying him war injury pension

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 11

The 63rd Cavalry Diamond Jubilee Cycle Expedition reached the holy city today after covering a distance of 1920 km. The expedition was flagged off by Lt Gen KJ Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, from Bhuj on February 13 to commemorate the 60 glorious years of dedicated service to the nation.The team traversed through the challenging terrain of Thar Desert, Aravalis and plains of Punjab and Haryana with an aim to establish a connection with the regiment’s veterans and to rekindle the glorious past and heritage.The expedition was covered in two phases. In phase one, the team from 5 (I) Armoured Squadron under Capt Himanshu Karan covered a distance of 1,200 km and reached their destination Alwar on February 27. Enroute to Alwar, the team also carried out a camel and mountain safari through the Aravalis in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan.The phase two team from the regiment under Lt Abhijeet Mahajan was flagged off by Lt Gen KJ Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, from Alwar for its final destination Amritsar.The flagging off ceremony also included the inauguration of a heritage wall dedicated to the service of the regiment. The expedition traversed through Rohtak, Ambala, Jalandhar and Ludhiana before reaching Amritsar. LieutenantColonel KG Jalnawala, the senior most veteran of the regiment, flagged off the expedition in Amritsar. “The expedition provided an opportunity for regiment personnel to inculcate the spirit of camaraderie through a judicious mix of challenge, adventure and thrill by pitting them against nature,” said PK Sharma, an Army spokesperson, in statement here today.

Pathankot, March 5

There are some “disturbing” inputs about a terror attack in India aimed at creating the “maximum media impact” during the Shivratri festival and the ongoing Parliament session, a top army commander disclosed here today with an assurance that steps have been taken to deal with it.“There are security related problems today. You know, Maha Shivratri is coming. There are inputs which are disturbing but notwithstanding that extra care has been taken,” Western Army Commander Lt Gen KJ Singh told reporters here on the sidelines of a function. When asked to elaborate, he refused but said such events were planned to create “maximum media impact”.“See elaboration is neither required nor warranted. These events (terror attacks) are planned to create maximum media impact and when can you create a media impact when Parliament is in session, when a festival is taking place, so both happen to be going on… so that is why, there are inputs but we have taken steps against that. I must assure you of that,” he said.The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Western Command went on to add that such “mischievous” activities will not deter a great nation as the Army is fully geared to meet any eventuality.“We want to tell whoever has got this mischievous intentions that nothing can deter us, one Pathankot, one Arnia, one Janglot, once more Samba, cannot deter us. This nation is too great. The Indian Army is fully organised. We will take care of every situation,” Lt Gen Singh said.When asked about inputs that some Pakistan-based terrorist commanders were in touch with their Kashmiri counterparts, he said, “there are certain inputs. There are certain indications. I should only tell you this much that we are fully prepared for that.”With regard to the detection of a tunnel in Jammu on the International Border with Pakistan, he said it had helped avert a major terror attack. He added that a survey would be carried out in all the border areas to see if there are any more such tunnels, for which a team of officials of Home Ministry and other security agencies has been formed. — PTI

Another Pathankot-like attack was being planned

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Amk Post (RS Pura), March 5It is no reel scene from a Bollywood flick. Had Pakistan’s secret tunnel gone undetected and the terrorists sneaked in, the heavily militarised Satwari Cantonment, with Jammu Air Force Station and Tiger Division headquarters, was just six km away for them via the almost dry Nikki Tawi river.The tunnel that originated from Afzal Saeed post on Pakistan’s side and crossed India’s defence layers of an embankment and five-foot-wide barbed fence, ran close to the Nikki Tawi river.“For trained terrorists who staged the Pathankot airbase attack, covering between six and seven km via the Nikki Tawi river and reaching the heavily militarised area in Satwari would have been no big deal,” said sources in the counter-insurgency wing of the police.“Satwari houses the Jammu Air Force Station, Military Hospital, Tiger Division headquarters, several schools of the Army and Air Force and a convent school,” they said.There had been numerous instances of Pakistani terrorists sneaking in via the international border, covering between 10 and 12 km through the night, appearing on the Jammu-Pathankot highway and staging attacks, they added.The Nikki Tawi, in the vicinity of Jammu, had no serious checkpoint. Barely two km from the tunnel, residents of Basti Derian village were frightened following the latest development.“Never before did we see or hear about a tunnel being dug in our area. It has happened for the first time since 1947. Had they succeeded in their sinister designs, terrorists could have caused carnage,” said Chain Singh, a grocer.He said the village had three high schools. “We could have been soft targets for gun-wielding ultras,” he said.Narayan Singh, a village elder, said AMK Post had been witness to Pakistani shelling and firing, but there was no intrusion bid so far. “This development has certainly sent a shiver down our spines,” he said.“It was a coincidence that a BSF tractor passed over the stretch and the land caved in. Had this not taken place, armed terrorists could have spelt doom on poor villagers in the night,” he added.Ram Pal and Tilak Raj, who echoed similar views, said the spot where the tunnel had been detected was close to the Nikki Tawi.

EX SERVICEMEN JOINT ACTION FRONT

(SANJHA MORCHA) WELCOME HONY CAPT SOHAN LAL CHAWLA TO THE FAMILY FOLDS OF SANJHA MORCHA.

HE HAS SETTLED DOWN IN YAMUNA NAGAR AFTER HIS RETIREMENT FROM 4 GR.

His two sons are Army officers. One serving Colonel and second took premature as a  Major and have settled abroad

WE WISH HIS ALL THE BEST AND LOOK FORWARD FROM HIS LONG EXPERIENCE FOR THE WELFARE OF EX-SERVICEMEN, WIDOWS,DEPENDENTS AND FAMILIES OF MARTYRS FROM HIS AREA.

HE DOWNLOADED THE MEMBERSHIP FORM THE WEB SITE OF SANHA MORCHA  UNDER THE PULL DOWN MENU “MEMBERSHIP”
“AND FORWARDED THE SAME TO THE BRANCH OFFICE ALONG WITH HIS CONTRIBUTION.

Asks Home Secy to speed up return of several pockets occupied by Army

An Army camp on land belonging to Jammu University.

Arteev Sharma,Tribune News Service.Jammu, March 2

In a significant development, the state government has decided to expedite the process of vacating of land by the Army. This is an indication to parties to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir, which is under Governor’s rule at present.Highly placed sources said the state government had directed Home Secretary RK Goyal to expedite the process of return of certain pockets in possession of the Army, which was agreed upon in the Civil-Military Liaison (CML) conference that was held in Srinagar on September 29 last year.“The Governor, who recently addressed the Union Defence Minister regarding enhancement in rental compensation for land under the Army’s occupation, would shortly review the return of certain pockets of land, with the Army at present,” a Raj Bhawan spokesperson said here today.The government, administered by the Governor, had taken all possible measures to restore people’s confidence in the administrative set-up as it vigorously followed decisions taken by the previous political dispensation headed by late Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who died on January 7.The Governor’s resolve to review the return of certain pockets of land, in possession of the Army at present, was a sequel to the decision taken during the first CML conference of the previous PDP-BJP government held last year.The follow-up of major policy decisions was a part of the Governor’s efforts for early restoration of a popular elected government in the state. So far, he had sought the response of the PDP and BJP, the two largest political parties, on government formation twice.Referring to the ‘Agenda of Alliance’ of the PDP-BJP government during the CML conference, Mufti had asked the Army to expedite vacating of Tattoo Ground at Batmaloo in the heart of Srinagar. He had said, “It will enable the government to develop basic facilities at Tattoo Ground in the interest of the public.”On November 3 last year, the then Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of a citizens’ park at Tattoo Ground. It was for the first time that the Army had agreed to part with a chunk of land for development of a citizens’ park.Issues pertaining to vacating of land by the Army in Gulmarg, High Ground in Anantnag, Tattoo Ground in Srinagar, Lower Khurbathang in Kargil, Jammu airport and Jammu University campus in a time-bound manner were discussed.The ‘Agenda of Alliance’, which was the framework for governance of the PDP-BJP government, stated, “All land other than that given to security forces on the basis of lease, licence and acquisition under the provision of the Land Acquisition Act shall be returned to rightful legal owners, except in a situation where retaining the land is absolutely imperative in view of a specific security requirement. In any case, monetary remuneration, be it in the form of rent or compensation, should be made fairly at market rates.”The state government constituted a high-level panel on January 29 to oversee the process of taking possession of land from the Army and security forces.