Army commited to vacating land for civic amenities

SRINAGAR: Army today said it was committed to vacating land it had agreed to during meetings held last year with the Jammu and Kashmir government.

"Army would like to clarify that it is committed to meeting all the mutually agreed decisions arising not only out of Civil Military Liaison Conference, 2015 but of all previous such CMLC meetings," a defence spokesman said here.

Dismissing a media report that army was undecided over vacating land for civic amenities, he said while it has implemented several decisions taken at these conferences, the genuine needs of the force also need to be addressed.

"In the past, army has handed over A1 Defence Land at Batmaloo, Pantha Chowk and Hari Parbat which were essential to develop civil amenities.

"Army has also provided timely NOC to infrastructure development projects like Haft Chinar flyover, roads construction under NHAI, BEACON and PMGSY especially in border areas," the spokesman said.

He said "while it has been agreed in principle to exchange Tattoo Ground land for alternative land, in the interim a citizen park is under construction".

He said army has also committed to providing land for expansion of Jammu University and land under its possession in Anantnag for setting up of south campus of Kashmir University.

Army has also agreed to vacate the Lower Plateau in Kargil at the request of the administration, the spokesman said.