KL Report
SRINAGAR
Former J&K Bank chairman and candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Rajpora constituency Dr Haseeb Drabu has expressed dismay over the State Government’s proposed move to relocate the Army’s firing range from Tosamaidan to Sangarwani in district Pulwama.
Interacting with the residents of the area who called on him on Monday, Dr Drabu said that it is absolutely illogical on part of the State Government to propose Sangarwani area bordering the tourist resort of Yusmarg as a firing range. He said the area is not only vastly inhabited but also holds massive public infrastructure in tourism, drinking water and forest sectors. “The area is a source of drinking water supply for not only Pulwama, Shopian and Budgam but also caters to major part of Srinagar city as six drinking water supply schemes, including the Doodhganga scheme are located in the area,” he said and added that any move to change the area into a firing range would involve not only relocation of inhabitants but the government infrastructure as well including destruction of the tourist resort of Yusmarg.
He said the area is also flush with lush green forests and any move to change it into a firing range would turn out to be a colossal ecological disaster which could have far reaching consequences for the ecologically fragile area.
Urging the State Government to rethink over its decision of shifting the firing range to Sangarwani, Dr Drabu said the present government instead of mitigating the problems of the people seems to be hell bent upon compounding the same by its irrational decisions and actions.
