Tosa Maidan opened sans army clearance; CM Mehbooba Mufti pulls up officials

TOSA MAIDAN (J-K): Even as the Tosa Maidan meadow was officialy thrown open to public today, J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti pulled up officials for starting tourism activities here without getting necessary clearance from the army, which used it as a firing range till 2014.

Mehbooba, who arrived here to declare the meadow open for tourism activities and inaugurate a three-day festival, was briefed by district administration and Tourism Department about proposed tourism activities.

Mir Altaf Hussain, the Deputy Commissioner Budgam, informed the CM that administration "has taken up" the matter of procuring necessary clearance from the army that the area has been cleared of artillery and shells.

The Chief Minister then questioned him, Tourism Secretary Farooq Shah, and Kashmir Tourism Director Mehmood Shah as to why the was place opened for tourists without obtaining requisite clearance.

"I mean there should not be any untoward incident tomorrow, God forbid," she said.

As the officials grappled with answers, Budgam SSP Fayaz Ahmad Lone stepped in and informed the Chief Minister that the "army had actually sanitised the whole area but the problem is that a certificate has not been taken from them".

"They must have forgotten it after the government changed in the state, otherwise the area has been sanitised," he told her.

Mehbooba then went on to address those gathered there, but not before asking officials to stop people from visiting far-off places till clearance is taken from the army.

Later in her speech, Mehbooba acknowledged the important role played by the previous National Conference and Congress government in getting the army to vacate the land.

She also thanked former chief minister Omar Abdullah for his efforts.

Tosa Maidan, which was used by the army as an artillery firing range for several decades, was handed back to the state government in 2014.

The state government has assured army of an alternate firing range.