Govt dispels ‘misinformation’ on strategic areas amendment in J-K

Arun Joshi

Jammu, July 19

The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Sunday dismissed as baseless charges made by political parties in the wake of new dispensation amendment made on Friday to meet their strategic requirements in the Union Territory.

The special dispensation amendment approved by the Administrative Council on July 17 envisaged regulating construction in “strategic areas” required by the armed forces for “their direct operational and training requirements”.

It had set off a fury all across the political spectrum in Kashmir where the land has become a super sensitive issue among the people after the abrogation of the Article 370 and Article 35-A in August last year, and subsequent declaration of the domicile policy that enables anyone having a stay of 7, 10 and 15 years, depending in the category of their position.

Kashmir-centric parties had termed it as an attempt to militarise the region and had also voiced concerns over the demographic change.

Sensing trouble because of what the government called “mindless misrepresentations and misgivings” about the special dispensation for the armed forces, it issued an extraordinary lengthy clarification and said nothing of this sort is being done or it is intended.

It said that the “decision has nothing to do with the transfer of any land to the armed forces” and added that the “transfer, both acquisition or requisitions, continues to be governed by the existing law and the norms on the subject”.

“There is no decision to either transfer any new land or declare areas outside cantonments or army land as strategic. In fact, it is the stated policy of the Government to regulate and harmonise the requirement of land by the Armed forces to meet the competing demands of development and internal security.”

The government then went on to explain that the armed forces in Jammu and Kashmir are “not only entrusted with the responsibility of defending the boundaries of the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh but are also involved in combating insurgency”.

“During past some years, the Defence Forces have brought to the notice of the government that multiple issues keep commonly coming up in their infrastructure development activities which are not only cumbersome and time-consuming, but at times go against strategic interests.”

It said, “Keeping in view the strategic importance of constructing such infrastructure within a defined timeframe, it has been felt that a special mechanism needs to be put in place for such strategic infrastructure needs. On the other hand, it is also important to ensure that whatever development takes place, especially when it is in the local areas of development authorities, it conforms to the overall developmental plan. The reconciliation of these two competing exigencies of public interest is important. It is with the above objective the Government has approved this special dispensation.”

‘What it means?’, an official release said while offering a wider explanation, “It simply means that in the so called notified “Strategic Areas”, within existing Armed Forces land, the responsibility of ensuring that construction activities are undertaken as per the Developmental Control Regulation of the Master Plan and all environmental safeguards are observed, has been delegated to the Armed Forces themselves.”

It also assured that adequate safeguards have been kept to ensure that the provisions are not misused. Only an Army Authority, not below the level of a Corps Commander, could make a request to the Government for earmarking such area as strategic only for direct operational and training requirements of Armed Forces. Additionally, the Government will satisfy itself about the reasons cited for declaring the areas as Strategic Area and will have such area notified accordingly, to the extent and with such conditions as may be required.

As would be seen, the special dispensation neither gives any powers to the Armed Forces to acquire more land in the Jammu & Kashmir, nor does it allow them any unbridled powers, without observing environmental safeguards and Developmental Control Regulations of the Master Plan. It only facilitates fast tracking of the construction of strategic assets, in the overall national interest, while observing all norms.”