CM calls for relocation of heavy ammunition from civilian population

Srinagar, Aug 29 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has called for relocation of heavy and sophisticated ammunition from inhabited areas and stock it at safe distance from civilian population.

Mr Azad made this suggestion at a meeting with Defence Secretary, Vijay Singh who arrived here today with a high level Central team to discuss with the chief minister the situation following the Khundroo ammunition depot incident.

Chief Secretary C Phunsog, Financial Commissioner, Home B R Kundal, Security Advisor to Chief Minister Gopal Sharma, Director General of Police Kuldeep Khuda and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Anil Goswami were also present in the meeting.

The Central team was represented by Special Secretary, Defence, Akhlesh Jain, Special Secretary, Home Affairs, M L Kumawat, Joint Secretary, Defence Ministry, Bimal Jhulka, Director, Ministry of Defence, Ratna Vishwanathan and Deputy Director General, Ministry of Defence, Brigadier Hooda.

Mr Azad informed the team about the concerns expressed by people in the affected villages about the possibility of similar accident and the need to shift the ammunition depot.

He said the villagers were not against army or presence of small weapons but the army should consider relocation of highly sophisticated and heavy ammunition from inhabited areas in the State and stock it at safe distances where they did not pose any threat to civilian population in the event of an accident.

The Chief Minister raised the issue of compensation to the villagers affected by the ammunition depot explosion for their early rehabilitation and said the special teams were set up to survey the affected houses and assess the quantum of damage.

The report would be ready in a couple of days following which random cross check of assessment would be done by separate teams before forwarding the report to the centre.

The Chief Minister also called for substantial increase in the rent for land and orchards under army's use and said that a committee of state officers looking into the revision of rentals would submit its report in two months.

The Defence Secretary said that the central government was agreeable to enhancement of the rentals and would be guided by the report of the committee.

The Chief Minister appreciated the excellent work done by the army in clearing the affected villages of live ammunition in a record time.

He said the first estimate was that the job would take six months but after he talked with the Prime Minister and Defence Minister, expert army engineers were flown in from different parts of the country and the job was completed in 15 days only.

He said that there was a very good coordination between army and civil administration and made special reference of the army's role in coming to the aid of civilian population in times of emergencies and natural calamities. He, however, called for functional improvement at the lower level especially while army convoys passed through civilian areas.

The Defence Secretary assured the Chief Minister of full cooperation saying that the points raised in the meeting would be adequately addressed.

UNI