news details |
|
|
| Soz talks people's interest on Tosa maidan lease, Omar silent | | | Early Times Report
ANANTNAG, Apr 19: Breaking his silence for the first time on Tosa Maidan lease to army, State Congress Chief Prof Saif-u-din Soz said that the decision of state government will be in the interests of people.
Congress chief who addressed a series of elections rallies here in this southern district, while responding to media queries, said, "I myself have took up the issue with Tourism Minister and now I am going take it up it with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah but let me assure you that the decision of government will be in the interests of people of the state," he said.
Soz flanked by Tourism Minister Ghulam Ahmad Mir urged people to support the secularism by voting for collation candidate. "Communal forces will not do any better for this kind so remember on 24th of this month; do vote for Congress-National Conference candidate to support secular forces for better tomorrow." Soz told elections gatherings during the day at several places.
Pertinently the lease period of the firing range will expire on 18th of this month while as the civil society groups and separatists organizations are demanding shifting of the firing range from the densely forest range citing civilian deaths a reason for their demands.
In October last year, J&K government has admitted that the unexploded shells in Tosa Maidan area of central Kashmir's Budgam district have cost 63 human lives and injuries to around 41 people in past 48 years.
"Since 1965 till date, 63 persons have lost their lives and 41 received injuries due to unexploded shells in Tosa Maidan," Omar Abdullah informed the Upper House in a written reply on October 10 last year. Government while replying to the query of Opposition People's Democratic Party has also disclosed that neither compensation nor jobs have been provided to the families of deceased and injured persons due to artillery exercises.State finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather on 15th of this month declared that government has decided not to extend the Tosamaidan lease to Army. "I visited Tosamaidan and found that locals were up in arms against the extension of lease to Army.
They want the area to be converted into a tourist resort," Rather told a gathering Khanshab area of Budgam district.
Rather further said that Chief Secretary-led official panel would identify some alternate site to relocate the army's firing range. Similarly National Conference patron Dr Farooq Abdullah has also expressed the same views; however Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah maintained a well planned silence over the issue.
Highly placed sources told Early Times that the state government has extended Tosamaidan lease to army but will disclose it only after the conclusion of elections.
"Government has extended Tosamaidan lease to army at the cost of 15cr 64lacs for next ten years but the government will disclose it only after the conclusion of elections as the issue has become political one which can affect the ongoing polls season and vote bank of ruling National conference." Sources said.
Defense sources said that due to ongoing poll season it was not right to comment on the issue. Divisional commissioner Kashmir Shalender Kumar was not available for a comment as he didn't attended repeated phone calls. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
